asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the serious anxiety caused to students, parents and teachers because of the long delay in furnishing results of leaving certificate and intermediate certificate examinations; and if will take the necessary steps to have the results made available earlier than heretofore.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Secondary School Examinations.
24.
Last year 53,715 candidates sat for the intermediate and leaving certificate examinations. This year there were 62,387 applicants.
Having regard to the very substantial increase in the number of applicants for examination, I do not anticipate that results can be made available before the normal dates of issue.
However, every effort will be made to have the results issued at the earliest possible date. I might add that I do not accept that there is any undue delay in the issue of the results.
Has the Minister's attention been drawn to recent newspaper reports of a dispute between the people who normally carry out this work and his Department? Does he accept that we have reached the crisis stage as regards having intermediate and leaving certificate papers gone through more expeditiously? Does the Minister not realise that parents, children and educators generally go through the whole of the summer practically in fear and trembling in relation to results which may come out later in the year? They are really anxious about the situation. The Minister does not appear to be concerned about it.
I am very concerned about it. The Deputy asked me whether or not there was undue delay in the issue of results on previous occasions. I pointed out to him that there was not. I am aware that there is a dispute in relation to this matter at the moment. I would hope that the ASTI would reconsider their instruction to their members and that the marking of the papers could continue in the ordinary way. However, if this is not possible, I can assure the Deputy that arrangements will be made to have the examining of the papers carried out by properly and fully qualified persons.
Will the Minister state exactly how long it takes for the results to be published? Will he not agree that it takes a few months? Would that not be considered undue delay especially as these children have this anxiety over the summer months? Will the Minister state what it would cost to provide the results earlier? Would it cost much more?
Surely the Deputy is aware of the enormous number who are doing the intermediate and leaving certificate examinations at present due to the free education scheme? Last year, as I mentioned in my reply, there were 53,715 candidates and this year there are 62,387 candidates.
Yes.
The leaving certificate examination results were issued in 1968 on 11th August. In 1969 there was a delay. They were issued on 28th August. The reason for that delay was mainly the fact that there was a problem in regard to the examination papers which had been stolen.
The Minister has a problem this year.
I certainly have a problem. I am not pretending I have not got a problem but I am aware of the fact that Deputy Desmond would be just as pleased as I would be if this problem could be overcome.
Does the Minister agree that he has created the problem——
No, I do not agree.
——by his disgraceful instruction to the clerical managers?
I certainly do not agree that I created the problem. From my reply yesterday, the Deputy should be very well aware of the fact that I did not create the problem.
May I inquire from the Minister if he appreciates the worry and anxiety——
The Deputy has already referred to the anxiety——
This is a separate question.
The Deputy should put his question.
Does the Minister appreciate the anxiety there was last year as a result of the papers being stolen? This year the newspapers have carried the story that the Minister and the people who normally examine the papers have fallen out and are in disagreement, and is this not a serious source of anxiety to the children?
Question No. 25.
I fully accept what the Deputy has said in relation to the anxiety but surely he is not suggesting that I am responsible for the papers having been stolen last year?
He did not say that.
Would the Minister restate that, in the event of the ASTI continuing their instruction to their members not to participate in the correction of this year's papers, he can assure the House that the correction will take place at least as expeditiously as it has heretofore and that, furthermore, the correction will be carried out by people who are fully qualified?
Vocational teachers.
As I stated in reply to a previous supplementary, I would be very glad if the ASTI would reconsider their position in relation to the marking of the papers and I would be very glad if the marking were then carried out in the ordinary way, but I want to make it clear that, if this is not possible, arrangements will be made to have it carried out by fully qualified persons.
Will there be an increase in the number of examiners?
A Cheann Comhairle, may I ask one supplementary question?
I will allow one final supplementary on this.
Will the Minister now state what type of people, if any, are being recruited to mark the papers this year?
That is a separate question. It does not arise. It is not relevant.