Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 Jun 1999

Vol. 506 No. 4

Written Answers. - Leaving Certificate Examination.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

54 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the consideration, if any, he will give to arranging all oral exams for leaving certificate students over Easter week; if provision will be made to have practical tests before Christmas of the exam year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13705/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

My Department is always open to suggestions on improving the existing examination schedule and the examination timetable is finalised every year only after consulting with the education partners.

While discussions on the timetable for 2000 have yet to take place, the possibility of examining during the Easter period has been considered on a number of previous occasions. There are practical issues which impact on the scheduling of examinations during the Easter break including the availability of students, access to schools, the provision of transport and the recruitment of sufficient suitable examiners. In relation to ensuring an adequate supply of examiners it should be noted that the oral examinations require 6,500 examiner days. As teachers volunteer to act as examiners, scheduling the examinations during what is a vacation period during which the teacher union conferences are held, would prove problematic.

In relation to the practical examinations it must be borne in mind that the current timing reflects the fact that the leaving certificate is a two year programme. Holding practical examinations over six months prior to the end of the leaving certificate programme raises issues such as student readiness for the examination and pressure on teachers to complete a two year programme in a year and a half. In addition, for many of the subjects that are examined using practical assessment techniques, there is also a requirement to complete projects. The projects start before Christmas, usually in November, and are scheduled for completion by a date that allows for further preparation for the practical examinations.

Timetable arrangements will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis with interested parties. Our approach is to try to build consensus regarding improvements.