Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2023
104. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if the Junior Certificate results in 2023 will be available earlier than the wait time for the 2022 results; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5203/23]
View answerI recognise and appreciate the importance for students of receiving the results of State examinations in as timely a manner as possible.
I recognise and appreciate the importance for students of receiving the results of State examinations in as timely a manner as possible.
The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has responsibility for the operation, delivery and development of the State examinations. Following the interruption to examinations in 2020 and 2021 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2022 marked the return to externally delivered State examinations for all candidates at both Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle, with 61,108 candidates sitting Leaving Certificate examinations and 67,130 candidates sitting Junior Cycle examinations.
There were a number of factors that affected the timing of the issue of results for both examinations this year. The date for issue of Leaving Certificate results took account of the holding of a deferred sitting for candidates affected by, for example, serious accident, illness or close family bereavement. It also reflected the challenge in recruiting examiners. Additionally, there was the implementation of a post-marking adjustment, also at Leaving Certificate, which gave effect to my commitment that results in 2022 would be no lower in the aggregate than in the previous year.
As in 2019, the issuing of Leaving Certificate results is the first priority, followed by the results of Leaving Certificate appeals with Junior Cycle results then following. It is essential to prioritise the Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate appeal results, given that these have a direct impact on access to further and higher education as well as the world of work. This means that the SEC is providing Leaving Certificate appeal results to the CAO in time for integration with the CAO offers season.
Accordingly, in 2019 Junior Cycle results issued on the 4th of October, later than in previous years and after issue of Leaving Certificate results in mid-August and Leaving Certificate appeal results in mid-September.In 2022, the results of the 2022 Leaving Certificate issued on the 2nd of September with the appeals issuing 5 weeks later on Friday the 7th of October. This in turn impacted the timeline for issue of Junior Cycle results, which therefore could not have been expected to issue until late October at the earliest.
The impact of the Leaving Certificate results timeline on the Junior Cycle results date was then further exacerbated by particular challenges with examiner supply at Junior Cycle so that Junior Cycle results ultimately issued on the 23rd of November. In 2022, the number of written examiners at Junior Cycle was 1,270, significantly fewer than the 1,756 examiners who marked Junior Cycle papers in 2019. This shortfall meant that it was not possible for examinations to be marked within the normal summer marking window and marking in a small number of subjects continued after the summer period.
My Department approved increased rates of payment for examiners in 2022 and additional payments were made which recognised the cooperation, flexibility and support needed in the delivery of the State examinations. Junior Cycle marking fees for 2022 increased by between 48% and 57% over 2019 depending on the subject. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that €11m was provided on Budget Day this year to maintain these increased examiner pay rates for 2023.
Recruitment and retention of teachers as examiners is therefore of critical concern in order to ensure Junior Cycle results in particular are delivered in as timely a manner as possible in 2023. The SEC is undertaking a review of this issue with all of the second level stakeholders. The objective is to substantially increase the numbers of teachers involved so that the examining experience is a positive one which greatly enhances teacher professional competence as well as earning power.
