Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2020
111. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on putting in place a system to monitor the success, challenges and failures of the 2020 leaving certificate arrangements as a case study for future reforms of the senior cycle assessment in post-primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7057/20]
View answerThe postponement of the Leaving Certificate examinations from summer 2020 to a later date and the provision of Calculated Grades to Leaving Certificate students have occurred solely as a response to the circumstances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The decisions to postpone the examinations and offer Calculated Grades were informed by health advice and by advice from an advisory committee of stakeholders, including representatives of students, teachers, parents and school managers, which I established in April 2020. The way in which the advisory group worked to examine the challenges facing the education system and to find solutions is an example of how I have been determined to involve stakeholders in building educational policy and approaches to implementation. I have also been clear with stakeholders about the exceptional nature of the challenges that Ireland and its educational system faced in 2020 because of Covid-19 and it was clearly understood among all the partners that the arrangements in place for the provision of Calculated Grades will not be regarded as a precedent or as agreement by teachers, principals or schools to implement such arrangements in future years.
Work at the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment on the Review of Senior Cycle has continued throughout 2020 and is nearing completion. The NCCA is completing an Advisory Report on the review setting out areas of work and plans to be pursued in the future development of senior cycle education.
Assessment and examination arrangements will comprise an important area of the Advisory Report. However, while the commentary in that report may refer to aspects of the assessment arrangements which are a feature of this year’s Leaving Certificate, it must also take account of the exceptional circumstances behind the arrangements that will apply this year and the understanding of the partners around their introduction. In addition, the Senior Cycle Review is intended to provide a framework for a broad range of learning and assessment arrangements, including terminal examinations, building on extensive research and evidence from Ireland and other educational systems.
