asked the Minister for Education if he has received a report from the Parents' Committee of Ringsend Technical School, Dublin, concerning the high number of failures by students taking the metalwork and mechanical drawing courses in the group certificate examination this year; and, if so, the action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Group Certificate Examination.
50.
Mr. R. Burke
A statement from the Ringsend Technical School Parents' Committee concerning the results obtained by some pupils of the school in metalwork and mechanical drawing in the day vocational school certificate examination, 1974, was forwarded to me.
A request was made that pupils who did not reach the required standard should, nevertheless, be awarded certificates. Since a uniform standard is applied throughout the country, I was unable to accede to the request made.
Would the Minister agree that the boys who failed the examination have to blame the shortage of teachers?
Mr. R. Burke
I know that the results are due to lack of teachers. I have satisfied myself on that argument but I cannot make any change in the marking system.