It was neither yesterday nor the day before that I sat the Juni... Oh no, I sat the INTER. Now, that was a real exam.

Even then, way way back in 1983, there were rumblings about continuous assessment. My one finger-powered typewriter had a particular interest in finding ways to lessen the stress of exams. Anyway, that was then. I survived. I’m not sure how I did.

Back in the day, the Inter Cert meant something. This was because a large proportion of students actually left school after the exam. The result they received mattered.

Those days are gone. We have one of the highest third level participation rates in the world. Throw in the PLC / Further Education numbers and you can see that the Junior Cert has lost some of its ‘purchasing power’.

Fast forward to the already watered down ‘Travers Proposals’ that see a souped-up school report given out in conjunction with the entirely sacred state exam. They were and are a cop-out and the worst kind of appeasement.

I’ve already said that the junior cert has lost much of its power. Yet the teachers think they will be ‘lobbied’ to help little Johnny pass. This is when many of our European counterparts have continuous assessment and I am yet to hear of any teachers being shot / disembowelled for crimes against mummy’s best boy.

The fact is the department bent over backwards and, it could be argued, caved into the demands of the teachers. Dr Travers made it clear that this was his final offer.  

You could hear the frustration in the Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan’s voice when she spoke to Lunchtime earlier today.

What did the teachers do?

Well, stringing out the meeting for nearly 12 hours was a good attention-grabbing move.

Saying the Travers’ proposals were a “good start”... Hello? There goes your high English mark. ‘Final Document’ should be a big, big, clue in any comprehension test. Add in the small mathematical equation that was in the Minister’s statement - there were over 50 hours of negotiations. Decisions have to be made.

Somewhere in the teacher’s joint statement they say that the proposals will have impacts on 'resources'. Copy books? Art Supplies?  Printer ink? Or will they be honest and tell us that it was all about a new pay rise?
Go on Miss, tell us. Wasn’t it all about pay? You’re always telling us to tell the truth.

You want the cash. You get that and then everything can go ahead. Isn’t that it, Miss?