Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 May 1997

Vol. 479 No. 2

Written Answers. - Leaving Certificate Examination.

Máirín Quill

Question:

234 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that students and their teachers were given the clear understanding that their preparatory sketches would be eligible for up to 20 marks out of the total in relation to the upcoming leaving certificate art examination; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that a mere six days before taking the design paper, students and their teachers were informed that the opposite would be the case and that no marks would be awarded for preparatory work; her views on whether this position is totally unsatisfactory; and the action, if any, she proposes to rectify the situation. [12956/97]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Prior to 1997 candidates were not permitted to bring preparatory sketches into the leaving certificate art examination in design. They were, however, entitled to a mark for sketches of a preliminary nature prepared during the examination itself. Following consideration of a request by the Art Teachers' Association, the Department decided to allow candidates to bring an A2 page of preparatory sketches into the examination centre as a memory aid on the day of the design examination. This is seen as a logical extension to the decision to allow candidates sight of the paper seven days prior to the examination. No marks will be allocated for the prepartory sketches made by candidates prior to the examination. Preliminary sketches and the final drawing carried out during the examination will continmue to qualify for up to 20 marks as in previous years.

These quite limited changes were communicated to schools by circular letter on the 28 April 1997 prior to the advance issue of the examination paper to candidates. As is the norm this circular also listed, for the benefit of students and teachers, the materials which students should bring with them to the various parts of the art examination. The Department did not at any stage communicate to schools a decision to the effect that preparatory sketches prepared in advance of the examination would in themselves attract a mark.