The Minister for Education has “every confidence” the Leaving Cert accredited grades system will not lead to inflated marks this year.
Tens of thousands of students around the country are today finalising their preparations for this year’s exams which get underway tomorrow.
This year’s students have the option of receiving ‘Accredited Grades,’ sitting the written exams or both.
Those who choose both options will be awarded the better result in each subject.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Education Minister Norma Foley said she has every confidence schools will be able to deliver accurate accredited grades.
“Teachers are more than familiar with the process now I suppose than last year, given this is their second year in,” she said.
“I think teachers are professionals to the last and I think experience and familiarity brings with it a considerable assurance in undertaking any process.
“The guidelines were very, very strong this year in terms of how to manoeuvre your way through the process.
“Remember as well it is a shared process within a school in that it is not just an individual teacher providing an estimated mark. That is also agreed with the cohort of teachers within a subject area and you also have the oversight of the principle so it is very much a shared process and I have every confidence they are in a position to deliver on it.”
She said students are now very familiar with the public heath restrictions that will be in place throughout the exams.
“No-one knows better than the students themselves the additional burdens that have been placed on them in terms of safely moving through COVID-19,” she said.
“Because of their goodwill and cooperation in schools, schools did remain controlled environments so, when they go into the exams tomorrow, it will be very familiar to them in terms of the operations will be quite similar.
“We are operating the exam centres on the back of very strong public health advice. We did obviously operate the exams very successfully in November and that was very positive learning experience for us.
“So, I want to assure students that all the measures that need to be in place will be in place. There will be reduced numbers in all the rooms. There will be additional exam centres. All the control and mitigation measures that need to be there will be there.
“They can absolutely rest easy that what needs to be done within the exam environment for their benefit to allow them to do the best they can do, it absolutely will be in place.”
She wished the Class of 2021 well into the future.
“I think they have been a remarkable year group,” she said. “They have shown extraordinary resilience, determination and focus.
“It has been an unprecedented 18 months but the class of 2021 have done all that has been asked of them.
“So, I want to thank them for the resilience and their focus and their good humour and patience throughout this process and I also want to take the opportunity to wish them every success tomorrow and indeed on an ongoing basis. They are richly deserving of it.”
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