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State Examinations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022

Tuesday, 1 February 2022

Questions (104, 111, 114, 121, 127, 139, 144, 163, 171, 176, 465, 527)

Patrick Costello

Question:

104. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if her Department will facilitate a hybrid leaving certificate as operated in 2021. [4360/22]

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Brendan Smith

Question:

111. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that the views of students are taken into account in finalising arrangements for the 2022 leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4824/22]

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Michael Creed

Question:

114. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details of her engagement with education partners including students on the matter of leaving certificate examinations 2022; if in particular, she will outline her detailed engagement with the State Examination Commission on this matter including any instruction or direction she has given the Commission regarding the format of examinations for 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4661/22]

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Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

121. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will give certainty and fairness to the leaving certificate class of 2022 and work to develop a hybrid model leaving certificate similar to the previous two years. [4655/22]

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Paul Murphy

Question:

127. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure a non-traditional leaving certificate examination will take place in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4692/22]

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Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

139. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to a hybrid leaving certificate for 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4809/22]

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Mick Barry

Question:

144. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education her plans for the State exams in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4825/22]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

163. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she expects to be in a position to meet the concerns of second-level students with regard to the structure for the leaving certificate 2022 exams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4652/22]

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Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

171. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education if a hybrid model for the 2022 leaving certificate will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4828/22]

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Mick Barry

Question:

176. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education the steps that will be taken into account in State examinations for the disruption to the school year due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4826/22]

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Joe McHugh

Question:

465. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education the status of the review of the leaving certificate 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4406/22]

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Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

527. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made regarding an option for leaving certificate students to sit the exams or have calculated grades as has been done in the past two years. [5173/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 111, 114, 121, 127, 139, 144, 163, 171, 176, 465 and 527 together.

In recent weeks, I have attended a meeting with the Advisory Group on State Examinations, which has representatives of students, parents, teachers, school managerial bodies, the further and higher education sector, and the State Examinations Commission. Following on from this meeting, I met with the members of the advisory group on a bilateral basis and also had further engagement with each of them thereafter. I have listened carefully to what each of these stakeholders has had to say and examined each of their points.

Following consideration of this matter by Government today, I announced the decision: to operate an examinations approach for Leaving Certificate in 2022, with significant further adjustments to the examinations; and to provide students with a commitment that the overall results of Leaving Certificate 2022 will not be lower than in 2021. As the Deputy may be aware, it would not have been possible to run Accredited Grades in the same manner as last year, as Junior Cycle data was unavailable for 25% of our students.

The further extensive changes I have announced to the examination papers, over and above those announced in August 2021, mean that candidates: have greater choice in the papers; have less questions to answer; and still have the same amount of time as in a normal year to complete the examination. For example, in mathematics on each paper, instead of having to answer all ten questions, candidates will only have to answer six.

This is in addition to previously announced changes, such as the running of the Leaving Certificate Oral Examinations and Music Practical over the first week of the Easter Break.

Timeframes for certain assessment elements of the Leaving Certificate Applied examinations have also been pushed out. Schools were also reminded of the flexibilities regarding the dates for completion and authentication of examination Coursework.

I have also confirmed that Junior Cycle examinations will take place this summer. Adjustments to the assessment arrangements for Junior Cycle were published in August 2021 and provide for more teaching time in schools. They include a reduction in the number of Classroom Based Assessments to be completed, the removal of the requirement to complete Assessment Tasks, and adjustments to the requirements in coursework and practical performance tests.

I believe that the decision announced will provide Leaving Certificate students of 2022 with an opportunity for their learning and attainment at the end of their post-primary education to be assessed, and will enable them to progress to the next stage of their lives. It also provides the certainty and clarity in this matter that had been requested by schools and parents.

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