asked the Minister for Education whether in view of the difficulty experienced by students in the leaving certificate honours mathematics paper No. II, he will direct examiners to exercise leniency when correcting this particular paper.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Leaving Certificate Mathematics Paper.
19.
I would refer the Deputy to the statement on this matter which I made to the House on 20th June.
All complaints in connection with examination papers are brought to the attention of the advisory examiner as normal procedure.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of any complaints in relation to this matter having been drawn to the attention of the Department?
As I indicated on 20th June, no formal complaints have been made to the Department.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary take this question as a complaint being referred to the Department?
I am afraid not. As the Deputy will appreciate, there are organised groups of mathematics teachers, teachers associations and managerial associations who would be regarded as the people appropriate to make complaints.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that not only the students who did the examination but also their teachers expressed grave dissatisfaction because of the difficulty of the paper?
I want to assure the House that if complaints are received they will be brought, as in every case, to the special attention of the advisory examiner. I have had no complaint up to this morning.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary regard it as a proper course for Deputies who get complaints to ask the teachers or students to forward their complaints to the Department?
Yes, but I would say that rather than individual complaints coming in, there are associations of teachers and managers who would be the best people to make these complaints.
I have received several complaints.