Leaving Cert students to be given clarity on exams on Tuesday
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said preferred option was hybrid model of calculated grade and written exam
Members of the Cabinet sub-committee on education are meeting on Monday to discuss options regarding the Leaving Certificate.
Mon, 01 Feb, 2021 - 13:30
Paul Hosford, Jess Casey and Cate McCurry
Leaving Certificate students and their families should be given further clarity on Tuesday on how Leaving Certificate exams will be held this year, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney.
Members of the Cabinet sub-committee on education are meeting on Monday to discuss options regarding the Leaving Certificate.
Another option would be calculated grades alone, although Mr Martin has acknowledged there is a will to hold some sort of written exams.
Student leaders have called for choice, and many parents also support a move away from reliance on the conventional exams.
But teacher unions made it clear today that they want to stick with the traditional exams.
Ahead of today’s crucial Cabinet sub committee meeting, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) reiterated its support for holding the exams, including components such as orals, practicals and projects.
TUI president Martin Marjoram said the union did not believe that a system of calculated grades or similar would reduce stress and anxiety.
Cabinet to make final decision on format of Leaving Cert exams next week Government hopes to have all schools open by the end of March, depending Covid numbers
Mon, Feb 1, 2021, 15:49 Updated: Mon, Feb 1, 2021, 20:09
The Cabinet will next week make a final decision on the format of this year’s Leaving Certificate exams with a number of options still under consideration.
Government Ministers and officials met on Monday to discuss the status of this year’s Leaving Cert and potential options for the State exam.
Senior sources believe it will not be possible to have a “traditional Leaving Cert at the traditional time”.