Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 2

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Pat Carey

Question:

340 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if dyslexic students will not have any marks deducted for misspellings in any subject in the junior and leaving certificate examinations in view of the fact many dyslexics are unable to spell correctly but in other ways are equally competent. [11690/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin):

The objective in making special arrangements at the certificate examination for students, who have either specific learning difficulties or difficulties which arise from a physical or medical condition, is to ensure as far as possible that such candidates are enabled to demonstrate at the examination their level of ability, while at the same time not conferring an unfair advantage over other candidates in the same examination.

The leaving and junior certificate examinations are national examinations and I am sure the Deputy will agree that, in the interests of equity and fairness across the entire body of candidates and indeed to ensure the credibility of the national examination system, the work done by students must ultimately be assessed according to the same strictly objective criteria. This is achieved by having a common marking scheme apply to the work of all candidates in a subject and at the same time by ensuring that every effort is made to ensure that full credit is given in accordance with that marking scheme for the work done.

Generally the marking schemes do not involve any deduction of marks for spelling errors. However, in some language subjects where such skills are under assessment and where the certification implies that the candidate has those skills, it would be inappropriate to set aside the national marking scheme.