Vol. 241 No. 10
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that the delay in publishing the results of the intermediate certificate this year has caused grave concern to both pupils and parents; and if he will arrange that in future these results are to hand prior to the commencement of a new school year.
299.
asked the Minister for Education the cause of the delay in issuing the results of this year's intermediate certificate examination.
300.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction caused to students who sat for intermediate and leaving certificate examination last term because of (a) newspapers reports of examination papers being stolen, (b) long delays in issuing results and (c) the unusually high number of failures; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 298, 299 and 300 together.
The position in relation to the intermediate and leaving certificate results this year was that due to the unfortunate happenings in connection with the examinations the work of compiling results was delayed by about 14 days. Added to this was the fact that there was an increase of 11,134 or 26 per cent in the number of candidates taking the intermediate and leaving certificate examinations. Furthermore, there is a limit to the number of assistant examiners that can be employed if uniform standards are to be maintained.
However, I have had the position reviewed and I can assure the Deputies that all possible steps will be taken to expedite the issue of results in future years.
As regards the failure rate I wish to inform Deputy O'Hara that the normal standard of marking was adopted this year. It is only to be expected that with vastly increased numbers the range of ability will widen so that some increase in the percentage of those who do not qualify for certificates is inevitable.
301.
asked the Minister for Education whether any study has been made of the reasons why girl examinees had a higher pass rate than boys in this year's and other years' leaving and intermediate certificate examinations; if so, with what results; and whether any steps are proposed to improve the pass rate for boys.
This matter has been studied by my Department. It is not easy to pinpoint the reason for the higher pass rate in the case of girls. It would appear, however, that certain subjects in the curriculum lend themselves to study by girls and that girls show a special aptitude for these subjects. I refer particularly to home economics, physiology and hygiene and art.
I do not consider that the small difference in the pass rates warrants any particular action by my Department. The fact is that in an examination such as the leaving certificate the number of boys who did not qualify for the award of the certificate cannot be said to be high.
Would the Minister not agree that the fact that the higher pass rate is attributed by him to the girls passing readily in certain subjects shows the total unfairness of the system in which a certificate is awarded to people who pass in a certain number of subjects, in which these subjects are open to girls and not to boys, and therefore you have a discriminatory position? Would he not agree that certificates should be given indicating that people have passed in whatever they have passed in and that a certificate should not be withheld because people failed to pass certain subjects, especially in the case of boys where this particular unfairness arises?
I do not think this was the only reason. There are possibly other reasons, but in any case I was particularly careful in my reply not to talk about failures but rather to talk about those who did not qualify for the award of a certificate. As the Deputy is probably aware the candidates who do not qualify for certificates can get a statement of their results from the Department.
Is the Minister not aware that such a statement of results does not carry anything like the same weight with an employer as the certificate does? Does he not agree there is unfairness in this regard?
I would say the weight it carries with an employer is usually related to the particular subjects involved and if the statement on the certificate shows a good standard in certain subjects in which the employer is interested, then it is of advantage to the candidate.
Is it possible the Minister is not aware that for many State positions you have to have an intermediate certificate and that the statement is of no value?
The Deputy has only mentioned State employment now. He was referring to employers generally.
Does the Minister intend to do anything in regard to the positions in State employment in view of his statement?
