Responding to remarks today from the Taoiseach that the Leaving Certificate needs to be reformed, Social Democrats spokesperson for Education, Gary Gannon TD, commented:
“The needs of the 2021 students must be the impetus for lasting change when it comes to the Leaving Certificate examinations.
“The Department of Education needs to hear the calls from teachers and students and deliver something that accommodates the disruptions to learning and prioritises wellbeing and equity among different student cohorts.
“The Minister’s determination to hold the examinations as per tradition is dangerous and shows a willful lack of ambition to change examinations which have consistently failed students every year – and not only in the pandemic.”
Speaking on the recently announced ISSU consultation, which included a survey of over 20,000 responses from students facing State examinations, Deputy Gannon added:
“Students have voiced their opinions on what they think should happen and the Department needs to engage with this quickly as the uncertainty is destroying wellbeing and causing ongoing anxiety.
“Part of the findings saw the majority of sixth year students (81%) favouring the option of a choice between calculated grades or sitting in-person exams in June. These findings need to be taken on board by the Education Minister.”
January 20, 2021