Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2020
130. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that did not engage in the predictive grading online registration; the way in which this figure compares to students that did not present for exams in each of the years 2017 to 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9894/20]
View answer202. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps which will be taken regarding the 994 students that failed to sign into the portal in time for the predictive grade deadline; and the way in which this compares to previous years for leaving certificate non-sits. [10356/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 202 together.
The Calculated Grades Student Portal opened for registration to Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied students on Tuesday 26 May. All Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied students were required to register on the portal between 10am Tuesday 26 May and 10pm Thursday 28 May. The deadline for registration was subsequently extended to 12pm on Friday 29 May.
Every school was sent information on the portal and how to register, and was asked to circulate this to students and to parents and guardians. If a student had trouble getting access online, helpline support was made available from midday on Tuesday 26 May, and every effort was made to contact students to encourage them to register.
If an individual student has a particular difficulty in registering and has not been able to do so, my Department will look sympathetically at such circumstances where the student makes contact with the Department.
In each of the last three years (2017-19), around 800 students have been entered for Leaving Certificate examinations but have not sat the examinations. As of Friday 5 June, 878 students had yet to register via the Calculated Grades Student Portal. I want to thank the more than 98% of students who have registered to date and assure the Deputies that the Calculated Grades Executive Office continues to attempt to engage with those students yet to register.
