Vol. 526 No. 6
396 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason he has found it necessary to identify students with specific learning difficulties who avail of particular arrange ments when sitting for examinations; if he will consider withdrawing this necessity in view of the fact that it might cause discrimination against such a student; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27414/00]
Inclusiveness and transparency are core principles underpinning the certificate examinations. The examinations were made more inclusive this year by allowing a student, depending on his/her special need, have his/her result in a subject based upon all except some element of the examination in that subject. I can assure the Deputy that in all such cases the grade awarded is a full and accurate reflection of the candidate's performance in the examination and the examination certificates issued by my Department will state that unequivocally.
This new measure enables a candidate to obtain maximum marks for the subject even though his/her special need precludes him/her from demonstrating attainment in core elements of the standard assessment. As such it discriminates in favour of the special needs candidate by allowing him/her a waiver not available to candidates generally.
Furthermore the change made this year aligns our examination system with best international practice where changes to standard assessment that arise as a result of granting the assistance of readers and scribes are enabled by including an explanatory note on the examination certificate.
I can also assure the Deputy that the explanatory note does not make any reference to a candidate's disability or special need. It does no more than provide factual information on how the standard national assessment was modified to facilitate the candidate.
