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30 examiners sacked over breach of protocol in Leaving and Junior Cert marking

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) said they sacked 30 examiners this year for breaking prot...
Newstalk
Newstalk

14.16 20 Dec 2016


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 30 examiners sacked over brea...

30 examiners sacked over breach of protocol in Leaving and Junior Cert marking

Newstalk
Newstalk

14.16 20 Dec 2016


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The State Examinations Commission (SEC) said they sacked 30 examiners this year for breaking protocol when it came to marking exams.

In total 53 examiners were found to have breached the protocol when marking Leaving Cert and Junior Cert exams.

A spokesperson for the SEC said "Of these 30 will not be reappointed as an examiner, six will only be re-appointed at a lower level in the respective subjects while 17 received an official warning.”

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Over the past six years, 404 examiners were found to have acted in breach of protocol. 186 were not re-appointed, as 85 were appointed at a lower level in their respective subjects while 133 received an official warning.

In terms of the breaches in protocol it can range from errors in the completion of documentation, mistakes in totting up, and not meeting deadlines.

In more serious instances it includes incorrectly and/or poorly applying the official marking scheme, failing to return scripts and threats to candidate confidentiality.

In all cases, the SEC said it applies penalties that are appropriate and proportionate to the degree of the breach of protocol.

They said with regard to the breaches "Examiners who are reappointed at a lower level in the respective subjects typically mark less demanding material such as Junior as opposed to Leaving Certificate, and Foundation or Ordinary, as opposed to Higher level scripts and would also have their new work subject to closer oversight.”

Examiners appointed by the SEC are selected on the basis of their academic qualifications, their teaching experience and their examination experience. When they are appointed they attend a conference where they are trained in the marking scheme.

 

 


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