asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the concern expressed by the board of management of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 regarding the group certificate examination and the unsatisfactory manner in which it is organised she will state (1) how the content of the syllabus for the group certificate compares to that of the intermediate certificate; (2) if the group certificate syllabus is laid out in detail like the intermediate certificate syllabus in "Rialacha agus Clar do leith Meanscoileanna"; (3) the body which is responsible for the syllabus; (4) the category of pupil which it serves, and the span of ages of these pupils; (5) if pupils have to sit a minimum number of examinations, or if it may be used as a single subject examinations; (6) if post-leaving certificate secretarial students sit the examination in commerce subjects, as it is the only such available examination in the Irish system; (7) if the standard needed to pass varies widely from subject to subject; (8) the body which sets the examination papers; (9) the arrangements for supervising and marking this examination; and (10) if these arrangements vary from those for the intermediate and leaving certificate examination, and if so, the reason.
Written Answers. - Second Level School Examinations.
The following is the position in regard to the points raised by the Deputy.
1. Since 1968, when the courses for the group day vocational certificate and the intermediate certificate were brought into co-ordination, it has been generally accepted that, in the case of subjects which are common to both examinations, the group certificate syllabus, followed for two years, is about ? of the corresponding intermediate certificate syllabus, followed for three years.
There are still some subjects which are uniquely provided at group certificate (GC) level. These are shorthand, typewriting and the practical examinations in cookery, needlework and laundrywork.
2. The syllabuses for the GC examination are set out in Memo V. 50, "Rules and Programme for the Day Vocational Certificate Examination". This memo is supplied to schools each year, free of charge.
3. The Department of Education is responsible for the syllabuses.
4. All recognised pupils who have followed the approved course for two years and are eligible on age grounds may be entered for the group certificate examinations. Some pupils take it as a terminal examination; others may take further examinations. Candidates normally take the GC exam at the age of 14 or 15. A significant number of candidates sit GC shorthand and typewriting examinations post-leaving certificate.
5. The rules provide that a pupil must follow an approved course. An approved course must include the subjects of at least one of the "groups" of subjects specified in the rules, as well as Irish. English and civics. Notwithstanding this, a candidate who is entered for examination in even one subject will be issued with a result and a certificate (provided he attains 10 per cent of the marks of better) in respect of that subject.
6. Many schools enter two streams of candidates for examination in secretarial subjects, mainly shorthand and typing. One stream would be aged 14 or 15 years, i.e. the "normal" type of candidate; the other stream would be aged 18 or 19 years and would usually be "adding" shorthand and typing to the subjects already secured in the leaving certificate. The Department also offers technical schools (TS) examinations in secretarial subjects at a number of levels.
7. No. The "pass" rates do vary between subjects, but it does not follow that the level of intelligence needed to pass varies widely from subject to subject.
8. The Department of Education is responsible for setting the group certificate examination papers.
9. The arrangements for marking are the same for group certificate as for the intermediate and leaving (IC and LC) examinations.
In regard to superintending the position is that the Department directly appoints the superintendents of the LC-IC examinations; the GC superintendents are appointed by the appropriate vocational education committee (VEC) or by the school authority in a case where—
(i) a non-VEC school is involved, and
(ii) the VEC has declined to make the appointment.
In all cases the Department specifies that the person appointed should not be on the staff of the school. Where the appointment is not made by the VEC the Department will refund the fee involved, on request.
10. Originally the group certificate examination was taken only in vocational schools. The Department agreed that the VEC, being the local education authority for the schools concerned, should assist in the appointment of superintendents. It is only since 1968 that non-VEC schools have become involved in taking the group certificate examinations. The trend for non-VEC schools to make their own appointments is a trend which has only developed in the last ten years or so as, with the increasing participation of non-VEC schools, some VECs have declined to make appointments for schools under different management.