Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 3

Written Answers. - Marking of Examination Papers.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

529 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has considered the proposal from the National Parents Council that examination papers should be corrected in schools rather than in the homes of teachers in view of the advantages this would give in terms of standardised conditions under which the work would be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9597/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The position is that my Department has already responded to the National Parents Council in relation to this proposal explaining why it is not considered either necessary or viable.

Quality assurance in marking of examination papers is best achieved by ensuring that examiners are well briefed in relation to the application of the marking scheme and through sampling and close supervision of the marking of each examiner as the marking proceeds. The key concern issue is to ensure a standardised approach in the marking as distinct from providing a standardised environment.

Some 4,000 teachers are required for the task of examining during the period late June to early August. Each examiner is allowed 26 days to complete the marking. Imposing a requirement that would necessitate each of those teachers having to reside for up to a month adjacent to a cen tral location, common to all examiners for that subject, would inevitably bring about a dramatic reduction in the number of teachers prepared to serve as examiner. This, in turn, would render it impossible to publish the results of the examinations within a reasonable timescale.