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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Apr 1996

Vol. 463 No. 8

Adjourment Debate. - Threat to Certificate Examinations.

I raise this issue on the Adjournment on behalf of the thousands of students who are due to sit the leaving certificate, junior certificate and NCVA examinations shortly. These students are under enormous stress and strain already without this unnecessary threat hanging over the examinations. In this context, and without any disrespect to the Minister of State, Deputy Currie, I am disappointed the Minister for Education is not present to provide the clarification we require and to state the position as it is. Given the sense of crisis now hanging over the examinations, the fundamental nature of the State examination system to our education system and achievements, and in recognition of the efforts that have been made by thousands of students in preparation for these examinations, we expect the Minister to be here to allay these concerns and to give a clear sense of confidence to students and parents that the examinations will go ahead as scheduled and without any undue disruption.

It is essential that the Minister for Education should state exactly what is the position, to what degree has the preparation of the examinations been damaged or delayed by the dispute, how much time has been lost and so on. For example, I am aware that the normal degree of overtime at this time of the year is not being worked. I am also aware that the 24 hour shift work which is part and parcel of the examination process is not yet under way in the Department and that we are within days of finding ourselves in an irretrievable position.

It is important that the Minister state what the position is. It is also imperative that guarantees are given that the disruption and delays to date will not result in any errors in the printing or publishing of the examination papers, in their delivery to the various schools or any other errors pertaining to the preparation process. Last year there were unacceptable errors in the marking of the leaving certificate Art examination papers and there is an ongoing dispute regarding the marking of the higher level English papers submitted by students from Dundalk.

There are indications that adequate resources are not available to the examinations personnel in Athlone. The resourcing issue in the context of the organisation of the examinations is something which requires full ministerial review. We do not want to see further errors due to undue pressures on staff or a rushed preparation process because of this dispute.

The Minister for Education's handling of the 1995 leaving certificate Art examination errors gave rise to considerable tension and anger among the staff in the examinations branch in Athlone. Her replies to a number of parliamentary questions tabled by me clearly attempted to lay the blame for the errors on the staff in Athlone and drew a sharp distinction between herself, top management and staff there. This has caused understandable anger and has opened up a huge gulf between the Minister and her staff in Athlone which has further exacerbated the situation.

The Minister has lost the confidence of the staff in her Department. It is worth noting that 88 per cent of the staff in Athlone voted in favour of industrial action. This indicates the degree of disillusionment with the Minister's approach and with the approach of the Government to their legitimate concerns as articulated through the negotiation process under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work and under the elaborate industrial machinery in place.

Inevitably, disputes such as this are resolved. I am concerned that time has been allowed to drag in relation to this dispute and, given the potential catastrophic impact on the State's examination process, one would have expected a more urgent response from the Government. Young people and their parents are distressed about the threat to the examinations taking place as scheduled. We must remove this additional stress and pressure from students and their parents. Accordingly, I ask the Government to take urgent action.

I wish to articulate my disappointment that today's discussions have not resulted in a successful outcome. I ask the Minister of State and the Government to act urgently to allay the real concerns which exist in relation to this matter.

The preparation and administration of the certificate examinations are some of the most important and respected services provided by the Department of Education for students, parents, teachers, employers and society in general. This is an enormous logistical exercise which has been expanding in recent years due to the growing numbers who participate in second level education.

These examinations now involve in excess of 130,000 pupils in 800 schools. In the case of a junior certificate candidate, the examination will represent a first exposure to external assessment. For leaving certificate candidates the examinations provide certification of achievement and are the basis for progression to employment and further education.

The National Council for Vocational Awards, a body exercising devolved functions under the jurisdiction of the Minister for Education, is aided in the administration of its important certification role by the examinations branch of the Department. This involves that branch servicing the needs of over 14,000 participants in a range of post-leaving certificate programmes.

Quality assurance, service, responsiveness to needs and equity of treatment are essential to ensure continued and enhanced public confidence in the examination system. The examinations are not just an operational exercise. They are also a major collaborative partnership involving students, parents, teachers, school authorities and the Department. Underlying this collaboration is a common desire to ensure that the examinations underpin good educational practice and that they are conducted in an environment which is as calm and as stress free as possible. This is essential in order that students can demonstrate their full potential and that this potential is reflected in their results. This is the objective of all parties and students are entitled to no less.

The overriding requirement to secure the wellbeing of examination candidates and to minimise any stress to them must be foremost in our thoughts in dealing with the present industrial relations difficulties. The House is aware that the industrial relations dispute involving the Civil and Public Services Union is not unique to the Department of Education. On the contrary, the central issues relating to this dispute are civil servicewide issues and must be dealt with in that context with care and sensitivity. Given this fact, it would be inappropriate and not in the best interest of candidates to speculate on issues of contingency planning at this time.

The Minister's commitment to the smooth operation of this year's examinations is well demonstrated by her recent announcement of an interim package of priority measures designed to improve the operation of these examinations. This package of measures includes the examination of the craftwork component of leaving certificate Art in schools by external examiners. The Department of Education is consulting with relevant interests on the detail of this measure. In addition, the package includes computer and systems developments in the Department's examinations branch which will improve the capacity to detect and address the absence of any subject component.

This year will also see the introduction of a new mechanism whereby results will be accompanied by a statement of information notifying schools of cases where a candidate's result for a subject is not based on all the required components of that subject. This additional information will act as a failsafe mechanism and will enable schools and candidates to readily identify any result which does not contain credit for all subject components sat by the candidate. A telephone helpline will be available immediately after the issue of the 1996 results. This helpline will provide——

Dear Frankie.

——a service to schools requiring assistance and clarification of issues relating to results.

In framing this package of measures, the Minister's concern was to ensure the integrity of the certificates examinations and their smooth operation. In addressing the present industrial relations difficulties, I assure the House that the wellbeing of candidates preparing to sit this year's examinations is to the fore of our concerns.

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