Vol. 529 No. 1
1119 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the decision to annotate certificates of students who avail of special arrangements when sitting examinations; and if he will reverse this decision. [30425/00]
Inclusiveness and transparency are core principles underpinning the certificate examinations. The examinations were made more inclusive last year by allowing a student, depending on his/her special need, have his/her result in a subject based upon all except some element of the examination in that subject. I can assure the Deputy that in all such cases the grade awarded is a full and accurate reflection of the candidate's performance in the examination and the examination certificates issued by my Department state that unequivocally.
This new measure enables a candidate to obtain maximum marks for the subject even though his/her special need precludes him/her from demonstrating attainment in core elements of the standard assessment. As such it discriminates in favour of the special needs candidate by allowing him/her a waiver not available to candidates generally.
The change made last year aligns our examination system with best international practice where changes to standard assessment that arise as a result of granting the assistance of readers and scribes are enabled by including an explanatory note on the examination certificate.
The explanatory note does not make any reference to a candidate's disability or special need. It does no more than provide factual information on how the standard national assessment was modified to facilitate the candidate.
These significant enhancements are again available to candidates sitting for examination this year. Architectural planning for the project referred to by the Deputy is progressing. The grant of planning permission for the extension is currently awaited. When this has been received, the matter will be progressed further.
