Vol. 539 No. 1
410 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the learning difficulties encountered by a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; if special consideration will be given in view of the extenuating circumstances outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18646/01]
In the interests of equity and fairness across the entire body of candidates and to ensure the credibility of the 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 full credit is given in accordance with that marking scheme for the work done.
My Department will again be instructing all examiners who have a difficulty in accessing the information given by a candidate to refer the script to their supervising examiner. This approach is intended to ensure that, notwithstanding any presentational or readability difficulties, every effort is made by the examiner to ensure the candidate is given credit for all work done. However, in the event of the examiner encountering difficulty, he or she is instructed to send the answerbook to his or her supervising examiner.
Every effort will continue to be made to ensure full credit is given for work presented and in 2001 examiners will, as in previous years, be required to apply the agreed marking schemes consistently to all candidates to ensure equity and fairness.
