asked the Minister for Education whether the examination of the submission made by a school (details supplied) in connection with the obvious errors in the marking of scripts at the higher and lower level English 1983 intermediate certificate examination papers has yet been completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Intermediate Certificate Examination.
10.
The submission made by the school in question has been carefully considered by my Department. As a result of their investigation the Department are satisfied that the marking of the scripts in question was carried out in accordance with the prescribed marking scheme, except in the case of those candidates whose results have since been up-graded and the revisions communicated to the school.
Would the Minister care to advise the House of the number of candidates concerned in the revision to which she has referred?
It is not the custom to be more specific in these matters.
Does the Minister feel obliged to be a slave to customs when it would be in the better interest that she would give the information concerned?
I consider that it would be in the better interest not to give the information and I do not consider myself a slave to custom.
Would the Minister accept that there has been such a considerable drop in the marks awarded to students, that obviously the system went astray and that she should be concerned about the esteem in which the system might be held; furthermore, that the situation is not satisfied by saying that in respect of one or two students the marks have been changed?
I do not consider that the system went astray, as the Deputy said. I am satisfied that the matter, having been very thoroughly examined by my Department the correct decisions were taken and that no purpose would be served by any further investigation.
The Minister is aware——
A question, please, Deputy.
This is the second supplementary question I have endeavoured to ask. This being the best possible mechanism available to us, even if there is nobody too enamoured of it, anywhere the examinations system falls into disrepute——
I do not accept that.
——as has this one — when we have had public meetings attended by parents and staff who are much more familiar with the students than is the Minister or any of her inspectors — is the Minister not prepared to admit that, from the facts and figures supplied to her, a very serious mistake was made and, much more importantly, a serious injustice done to the students in question? She has the facts and figures available to confirm that to her.
No, I do not accept that. As I have pointed out to the Deputy, I am satisfied — having had the matter very thoroughly examined by my Department, that no purpose would be served by any further investigation, that the system is not in disrepute and that the whole matter was dealt with correctly.
The Minister will accept that her own personal satisfaction with what is convenient to her does not satisfy the staff, students and parents in question?
What steps, if any, have been taken in the Minister's Department to ensure there will be no repetition of the errors in marking the examination paper that occurred in this case?
I do not consider that any steps need to be taken. The system which operates in the Department came into play in this matter. I do not believe there is a necessity to change the system.
Would the Minister not accept that there was an exceptionally remarkable level of disparity between the level of results in this particular year and those of previous years? Perhaps the Minister in her reply is giving us newer information than we have had in direct correspondence. Would the Minister confirm that a significant revision resulted in this case or is she talking about the small number of people about whom we have known for some time? What method of checking is involved? Were the actual papers reconsulted, because there is grave local concern and there appears to be a remarkable level of disparity in the results that year in comparison with the standards normally achieved in that school.
All I can say in response to the Deputy is that an unusually thorough investigation was carried out because of certain aspects of this case which did appear to be unusual. Having had that very thorough investigation carried out we in the Department are satisfied that no purpose would be served by any further investigation and that the system worked perfectly satisfactorily. It is not open to me to be more specific in the matter of detail.
One final supplementary. In view of the position here — and I do not want to damage the system as it obtains — would the Minister be prepared to allow a representative of the school to look at some of the papers that have been revised?
I could not agree to that.
Why?
Because that is outside the normal procedures.
It is a cover-up; that is why.
It is not a cover-up.
In relation to that, would the Minister not accept that the Economic History results for the last year, which she refused to——
We are now having repetition and argument. I am calling Question No. 11. Will the Minister please answer it?