Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2023
391. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education her views on the supports available for students with a diagnosis of dyscalculia in post primary education, in particular, supports to help students with Leaving Certificate maths. [8275/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is the policy of the Department of Education, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that pupils with additional learning needs are supported in mainstream classes along with their peers, with additional supports provided as necessary. Primary and post-primary schools make provision for pupils’ special educational needs (SEN) through a continuum of interventions ranging from additional support teaching in mainstream schools to placement in a special class, or in some cases, enrolment in a special school. Schools are provided with the resources, through the special education teacher allocation model, to assist them in meeting the needs of their students, including those with literacy and numeracy difficulties. Schools are required to target their additional resources at those students requiring the greatest level of support.
The State Examinations Commission (SEC) facilitates access to the certificate examinations by candidates who would have difficulty in accessing the examination or communicating what they know to an examiner because of a physical disability, including visual and hearing impairments, a medical or other condition, including sensory and mental health conditions, or a learning difficulty. The access scheme is referred to as the scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations or RACE Scheme.
The purpose of the scheme is to allow candidates who have special educational needs that interfere with their capacity to engage with the standard examination arrangements to demonstrate what they know and can do, without compromising the integrity of the assessment. This involves such students being held to the same standard as other candidates with regard to what the examination is intended to measure.
In common with similar schemes which operate in other jurisdictions, the focus of the RACE scheme is on the need to remove barriers to accessing the examinations, while retaining the need to assess the same underlying skills and competencies as are assessed for all other candidates, and to apply the same standards of achievement as apply to all other candidates.
I am advised that the access arrangement provided by examining bodies in other jurisdictions to students with dyscalculia is access to a calculator in mathematics, science and other technical examinations. The SEC allows all students to use electronic non-programmable calculators in all examinations in accordance with Rule 74 of the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools.
Also, under the RACE scheme, the SEC will also consider applications for use of other forms of assistive technology (other than those named in the scheme) in the examinations as set out in the Instructions for Schools.
