Ulick Burke
Ceist:255 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to ease the difficulties of disruption within schools caused by the oral and practical tests during the school year. [10077/00]
Written Answers. - School Examinations.
Aware of the difficulties experienced by schools during the oral and practical examinations, earlier this year my Department established a working group representative of the partners in education to review current arrangements for conducting the examinations and to make recommendations for a new structure that would address the problems of the current system.
I understand that the working group has begun its work by considering the merits of various proposals advanced in submissions from the partners but that it is too early in the process yet to predict what the group may ultimately propose.
The working group will try to seek a consensus among the partners on the best way forward to overcome the difficulties that have arisen under the current model. To advance the process each member of the group will consult within the organisation that he or she represents on the merits and demerits of possible new models.
I look forward to receiving the findings of the working group in due course.