Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 June 2016
118. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position in relation to leaving certificate students who require reasonable accommodations in order to sit their examinations, for example those with dyslexia (details supplied); the detail of backlogs in receiving approval for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17362/16]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission (SEC) has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
The SEC operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations (RACE scheme). The RACE scheme enables access to the Leaving and Junior Certificate examinations by students with special needs which include specific learning difficulties and permanent or temporary physical, medical or behavioural conditions or other conditions. Reasonable accommodations are intended to: (a) remove, as far as possible, the impact of the disability on the candidate's performance and thus enable the candidate to demonstrate their attainment and (b) ensure that special arrangements do not confer any unfair advantage over other candidates in the same examination.
I am advised by the SEC that the application process for the 2017 Leaving Certificate, which would normally have closed in late-May 2016, has been deferred until the start of the new school year. The SEC has advised me of its intention to issue details of the RACE Scheme for the 2017 Leaving Certificate to schools in early September. The SEC has indicated to school authorities and applicants that there will be an extended closing date into the new school year which will allow sufficient time for engagement with the application process and notification by SEC of the outcome.
The SEC has notified schools of the deferral and asked for the information to be brought to the attention of Learning Support teachers, Resource Teachers, Guidance Counsellors and other school staff involved in the preparation of RACE Applications as well as to the notice of students and parents who may be interested in applying for the RACE Scheme.
