Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 October 2020
187. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she remains satisfied that all issues arising from the 2020 leaving certificate have been fully addressed and resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30569/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a result of COVID-19, which prevented the State from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations this year. The system of Calculated Grades is a complex and sophisticated system. It had to be developed from scratch, specifically for the Irish Leaving Certificate, and within an extremely tight timeframe in order for students to get their Calculated Grades results in time.
On 3 October, I announced that 6,100 Leaving Certificate students would later that day receive details of improved calculated grades, following the correction of errors found in the coding used as part of the Calculated Grades process. As part of the Round 4 offers made by the CAO on 8 October, 485 of these students received a CAO offer as a result of their improved grades. Each of these students will have the opportunity to take up their offers in the current academic year.
I also announced on 3 October that I had asked that an independent review of the design and implementation of the Calculated Grades process should take place when the process is complete. The full scope of the review will be clearly set out in advance.
