Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 February 2022
135. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if there is a process for receiving information from schools regarding teachers who have been unable to attend school due to illness or being a Covid-19 close contact; if these numbers were examined and taken into account when making decisions regarding the State examinations for summer 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8549/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does have a process in place for receiving information from schools regarding teachers who have been unable to attend school due to illness or being a Covid-19 close contact.
On 1 February, following consultation with the Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations, I announced extensive changes to the Leaving Certificate examinations for 2022. These further extensive changes to the examinations, additional to adjustments announced in August 2021, took account of the disruption to teaching and learning experienced by the Leaving Certificate class of 2022. The decision to make these changes to the examination papers has been taken to provide the Leaving Certificate students of 2022 with certainty and clarity. The changes will provide the fairest pathway to successfully completing their post-primary education and enabling them to progress to further and higher education and training, apprenticeships and the world of work. The changes are the same as those that were implemented in March 2021 for Leaving Certificate 2021. They are designed to cater for a range of different absence scenarios experienced by students as a result of the impact of Covid-19, while ensuring that the overall familiar structure of the examinations remains intact. Full details of the further changes made to the examinations are published on gov.ie/leavingcertificate and on www.examinations.ie. They have been notified to schools, who have been requested to communicate them to students.
