Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 May 2021
211. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if her Department will review the potential use of the accredited grades model beyond 2021 in particular for students who experience exceptional circumstances such as, bereavement or illness over their sixth year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29038/21]
View answerOn 17 February this year, I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will proceed and that students will also have the option of applying for grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), to be known as SEC-Accredited Grades. This decision, and the decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades for the Leaving Certificate class of 2020, were made in response to the exceptional circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the disruption to face to face learning experienced by all students.
This decision to introduce the process of accredited grades followed intensive engagement with education stakeholders, both bilaterally and through the Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations 2021.
It is important to note that the exceptional measures adopted in 2020 and 2021 do not represent a precedent for future senior cycle arrangements. As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) have undertaken a significant review of senior cycle and an advisory report is due to be submitted to my Department this year. One of the themes included in that review is the appropriate arrangements for assessment, reporting and certification in senior cycle. My Department looks forward to receiving and considering the NCCA’s report and to further engagement with all stakeholders on this portant area of work. It would not be appropriate to make longer-term decisions in relation to senior cycle in advance of this.
The State Examinations Commission introduced a pilot provision for the 2019 Leaving Certificate examinations, allowing Leaving Certificate students who suffered a close family bereavement around the time of the state examinations in June to sit alternative papers in July. Under the arrangement, which was an extension of the scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at State Examinations (RACE), a Leaving Certificate candidate who suffered the loss of a close family member was permitted to defer up to three days of their examinations and to take those examinations at an alternative sitting in July. The SEC had commenced a comprehensive review, involving engagement with stakeholders, of the broader issue of how best to support students experiencing all forms of trauma and adversity at examinations time The SEC will be recommencing the review process, which was interrupted due to Covid-19 , as soon as it is feasible.
