Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
607. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education if special arrangements will be made for students sitting the Leaving Certificate in 2023 and 2024 given the difficulties they faced in respect of their post-primary education in general due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18189/23]
View answerOn 2 September 2022, I announced that adjustments will be made to the assessment arrangements for students due to sit State examinations in 2023, to take account of the disruption to their learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The level of adjustment is the same as that announced in August 2021 but updated as relevant. These adjustments play to student strengths by leaving intact the familiar overall structure of the examinations, while incorporating additional choice for students in the examinations. In some cases, the adjustment measures provide more time for tuition by, for example, reducing preparatory work for practical examinations. This provided clarity, certainty and reassurance to students, their parents/guardians, teachers and schools at the start of the 2022/2023 school year.
The changes have been made with due regard for the principles of equity, fairness and integrity, in relation to student-to-student, subject-to-subject, and year-to-year comparisons.
In addition, as I have previously stated, there will be no “cliff edge” for this year’s students in relation to grades, and this is part of the planning ongoing for 2023 examinations.
In relation to 2024, the detailed planning will commence following the 2023 examinations.
