Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
885. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the measures that will be taken to ensure objectivity when teachers will be correcting their own students' work under the proposed changes to the leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20025/22]
View answerAs the deputy is aware, on 29 March I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle where the student is at the centre of their Senior Cycle experience. The three tenets of Senior Cycle reform are to:
- Empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century
- Enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system
- Embed wellbeing and reduce student stress levels
I have asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) together with the State Examinations Commission (SEC) to jointly research and explore how an SEC externally-moderated, teacher-based form of assessment could be possible within the mix of approaches used to assess each subject. This assessment component will have a weighting of 40% of the total marks available.
I know that in moving to externally moderated, teacher based forms of assessment some teachers, parents and students may have concerns. The NCCA and SEC will have extensive engagement with teachers and other stakeholders as the necessary development work progresses. The “network schools” approach will be used to introduce this aspect of Senior Cycle development, which will allow each element of the revised curriculum and assessment approaches to be carefully worked through.
There is no doubt that teacher based assessment broadens the range of skills or types of learning that can be assessed. It must be ensured that the additional components are adding that value by ensuring they do test additional skills beyond those already tested by written examination. We must also ensure, in the design of teacher assessment and other additional components that there is equity for all students and that we do not create any disadvantage for any student.
