Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 March 2022
77. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if all concerns regarding the leaving certificate examinations have been addressed with reference to the disruption to the past two school years due to Covid-19; the plans that are in place to tackle remaining concerns with particular reference to children with special educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13454/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis question seeks to ascertain the position, after Covid and the issues that arose over the past two years, with the operation of the leaving certificate, how that might affect students, those with special needs in particular.
I thank the Deputy. As he knows, I myself have a son doing the leaving certificate. He is in the middle of his mocks at the moment. Deputy Durkan is right that the past two years have been especially difficult due to the pandemic. Obviously, the Minister announced adjustments around greater choice in the papers and fewer questions to answer while allowing the same amount of time to completing the examination as is permitted in normal years. Students are also having their oral exams and the music practicals over the first week of the Easter break.
On children with additional needs specifically, there are accommodations there. In 2019, 23,041 reasonable accommodations were granted to 19,765 students. That is about 16% of the cohort taking the leaving certificate in the first instance. It is essential we support them in every way we can.
The reasonable accommodations at the certificate examinations scheme was reviewed in 2017 and will be subject to further review in the context of reform of the senior cycle. It is assessed and based on a level of need. In 2021, €3 million was given to schools under the assistive technology scheme because many students use word processors, laptops, tablets and various types of digital assistance when undertaking their coursework or doing their exams. There are no digital exam papers at the moment because that would create concerns around the integrity of the exams, as the papers would need to be accessed in advance of the exams. However, there are examination reading pens that convert text to speech and digital coursework booklets on a wide range of leaving certificate subjects are provided, for example in geography, history, home economics and religious education.
I thank the Minister of State for her reply. Is she satisfied with the extent to which these matters have been addressed? How will matters proceed this year and is it in accord with the concerns expressed by teachers, parents of children with special needs and the students themselves?
Regarding the leaving certificate more generally for children without additional needs, the right balance has been struck in trying to cater for them as best we can, bearing in mind the difficulties that they have faced over the past two years. I am satisfied that we have made reasonable accommodations for children with additional needs. The scheme aims to remove access barriers to exams while retaining the fairness element for all students. The need to assess the same underlying skills and competencies will always be there. This is the basis on which decisions are made.
There are a number of technological assists to help students. The majority use word processors. The scheme is being reviewed and consideration will be given to widening the use of assistive technologies to new areas, for example, text-to-speech software, reading pens and so on.
If particular issues arise at exam centres anywhere in the country, is it possible to put in place some means of addressing them in time and on the go?
Deputy Ó Laoghaire wishes to ask a brief question on this.
There has been a lengthy debate on how the leaving certificate should be done. I do not want to rehash it, but it arose for a number of reasons, such as, the difficulty in covering the course and the anxieties and pressures students were experiencing because of two or more years of Covid and everything that went along with that. What plans are there for mental health supports for students between now and the exams? Will the Minister of State put in place a helpline, run by the Department, to ensure that information on mental health supports is available? There will also be many questions about papers and so on. It would be a useful resource for the Department to provide.
If there is time, I will ask the Minister to respond to that question.
Regarding Deputy Durkan's question on assistance, 8,936 special exam centres have been set up at a cost of €5 million for children with additional needs. That assistance will be available through these centres and everything will be done to assist the children in doing the leaving certificate.
I wish to be clear regarding the leaving certificate and junior cycle classes of 2022. Significant accommodations have already been made on the papers for leaving certificate students, and equally so in respect of junior cycle students. We are looking at classroom-based assessments being cut by 50% and the assessment task being removed so as to allow for greater contact time in the classroom and a strong well-being approach. I acknowledge that this approach is being taken by all schools in supporting their students - not just their exam students, who are important in this context, but the entire school community. This approach is being well supported throughout our schools.
