Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021
511. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education if a leaving certificate 2021 student who has signed up to the online portal to sit the exam but cannot or does not attend on the day will receive the accredited grade for this subject or a no grade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26392/21]
View answerOn Wednesday 17 February, I confirmed that the written Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will be held in June, with related components also proceeding as far as possible subject to public health advice. A corresponding process of grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) will also be available to students who opt to receive them.
This decision followed intensive engagement with education stakeholders bilaterally and through the Planning for State Examinations 2021 Advisory Group and ensures for every student a method to assess their learning and attainment at the end of their post-primary education and to progress to higher and further education, and the world of work.
The timetable for the written examinations in June has been published by the SEC. As far as possible, access to these examinations will be provided for students at very high risk of COVID-19, who are being provided with an Adapted Education Provision by their school.
The SEC is issuing Guidance for the Conduct of the Written Examinations to schools that is in line with public health advice.
It is of the utmost importance that examination candidates, parents and schools should note, in respect of sustaining public health measures in schools until the end of the year, and in the Leaving Certificate examinations, that candidates will not be allowed to present for their examinations if they:
- have been diagnosed with COVID-19;
- have any symptoms of COVID-19;
- or develop these symptoms at any stage over the course of the examinations;
- are a close contact of a confirmed case;
- are self-isolating;
- have been advised to self-isolate, or to restrict their movements.
Some students may also be at very high-risk from COVID-19; or they may have a bereavement or other medically certified illness which prevents them from sitting the examinations. There will be only one sitting of the 2021 Leaving Certificate. Candidates have by now finalised their choices of sitting examinations, receiving Accredited Grades or both on the Candidate Portal. Candidates will have Accredited Grades available to them as a safety net in the event that they are unable to take their examinations, even if they have not opted for Accredited Grades.
All candidates have the opportunity to be provided with Accredited Grades this year and it is hoped that following these revised arrangements all candidates can be provided with Accredited Grades. Candidates attending school will have information provided on their behalf by their school for all subjects they are studying in school. The process of providing Accredited Grades to candidates who are out of school learners and to candidates taking subjects outside of school requires these candidates to proactively engage in the relevant Accredited Grades Process as set out in the guidance. As such, accredited grades can only be provided, as contingency, to out-of school candidates (those who are out-of-school learners or studying a subject outside-of–school) if the candidate engaged in the relevant process, provided they have been able to produce evidence of their learning in the relevant subject(s) to allow the provision of an estimated mark.
Accredited Grades, if they can be provided, are available as contingency to candidates unable to attend the examinations for unforeseen reasons.
Where it has not been possible for a candidate to be provided with Accredited Grades and who has not, for whatever reason, attended for their examination(s), their next opportunity to sit the Leaving Certificate will be at the 2022 examinations.
