Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 October 2004
119 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of leaving certificate students who appealed their examination results in 2004; the results of those appeals; if she has satisfied herself with the appeals process in terms of speed and efficiency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26123/04]
View answerOperational responsibility for the State examinations is a matter for the State Examinations Commission. I have been advised by the commission that of almost 380,000 grades overall in the leaving certificate, appeals were made in respect of 10,305, or 2.7% of grades. Of these, 2,082 candidates were upgraded and seven were downgraded. These results are consistent with the trends in previous years.
I am satisfied the appeals process operates with speed and efficiency. Since 1998, all candidates in the leaving certificate examination have been afforded an opportunity to view their own marked scripts to satisfy themselves that the marking scheme has been applied correctly.
Ireland is one of the first countries to introduce this measure in the national examination system, placing the system at the international forefront in terms of openness and transparency. Of the 250,000 marking scripts returned for viewing in 2004, there were appeals in respect of 10,305, which is 4%. The dates for viewing scripts were 3 and 4 September and the deadline for appeals was 8 September. The results of the appeals were posted to arrive in schools on 12 October 2004, which allowed a very short time scale for the appeals process to operate. I am satisfied the task was processed as quickly as possible.
It is an advantage that students can now look at their papers. Following 10,000 appeals, 2,000 papers were upgraded, which appears a high number. Is the Minister concerned that the figure suggests many other children may not have received the marks they should have in particular subjects?
While the numbers upgraded might appear large in relation to the number of appeals, the number of upgrades granted was small in the context of the number of students who sat examinations. When taken in the context of previous years, it indicates that when students look at their papers in the company of the teacher, they can see for themselves exactly where a mistake might have been made. They would appeal only on the basis that they had not been given the grade they deserved. Most of the appeals are at higher level. It is also significant that if an irregularity comes to light indicating a number of students whose grade should have been higher, even if the students did not appeal their grade, they will benefit from the upgrade, which happened in the case of 16 students. This process does not discriminate against students who did not appeal because they will benefit from the upgrade.
Is this due to an irregularity when adding up the marks?
It is due to a complete remarking of the paper. An appeal results in a full remarking of the paper, not a recheck of the marks. An examiner does this and then passes the matter on to an appeals adviser if the paper is to be upgraded. The chief examiner then signs it. It is quite a structured process.
I congratulate the Minister on her appointment. Déanaim comhgairdeas léi. My question is directly related to the subject matter of the question. Has she considered students who for one reason or another, perhaps a serious illness or family bereavement, do not have an opportunity to sit a particular examination in one of the main subjects and who must postpone decisions for a year until they sit the examination the following year? Has the Minister considered allowing such students to sit the examination in July, August or September——
The Deputy is widening the scope of the question.
——so they can avail of whatever opportunity arises in that academic year? Having been a secondary teacher, I am sure the Minister will be aware of the distress this causes.
It is a separate matter to the subject matter in the question.
It is an important question.
It is very important, therefore, it probably deserves a separate question.
The Minister has indicated that she wants to reply.
If she agrees to do so.
When I was a secondary school teacher in Sion Hill, I considered all these issues. As Minister for Education and Science I have not yet had time to consider them.
What is the proportion of papers automatically rechecked by the second examiner who is working on a tight timeframe? Does she consider that students' worries could be alleviated if another examiner automatically rechecked a greater percentage of papers?
I am not sure whether the Deputy is referring to the initial correcting stage.
The initial stage.
I do not have the figures. At the appeals stage, 20% of an examiner's work goes on to the appeals examiner. I will check the figures for the Deputy.
