asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the recently announced arrangement whereby certain subjects, for example, German and the history of art are tabled for the same time in the leaving certificate of 1988; if she is cognisant of the fact that a number of students taking these subjects will be put at a severe disadvantage vis-à-vis their fellow students with different subject combinations in the race for results; and if she will make a statement as to her intention to have the matter rectified.
Written Answers. - Leaving Certificate Timetable.
155.
Considerable thought is given each year to the scheduling of subjects within the timetable for the certificate examinations. Special account is taken of the number of candidates taking each subject and of previous cases in which there has been a clash of subjects. By longstanding agreement with the school authorities, the examination period may not commence earlier than 8 June each year, nor may it exceed 13 examination days. The reasons for this agreement relate, inter alia, to the length of the school year and a common desire to keep the overall period of the examination from being excessively long. Regard must also be had to the dates of the University Matriculation examination. Other factors which must be taken into account include the time necessary to mark the candidates' scripts and the need to have the results issued to the schools at the earliest possible date.
Given these constraints, it is inevitable each year that a number of the smaller subjects are scheduled for the same day. No change can be made in the examination timetable for 1988 at this stage. Where a candidate has to take more than two subjects in the one day, this matter will be brought to the attention of the examiners involved.