There are “challenges” in having a hybrid model Leaving Certificate this year, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said, especially since such models can create grade inflation
Saying that he understood students' "need for clarity as quickly as possible", Mr Martin said the capacity of colleges and universities to provide extra places this year "may not be as high" as happened in the last two years.
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris "managed to squeeze many extra [third-level] places two years in succession" following negotiations with the third-level bodies, he said.
“The capacity of the third-level sector to provide that equivalent number of places this year may not be as high, to put it charitably. That creates an additional challenge.
"We know hybrid models can create grade inflation. There are, therefore, challenges with the hybrid model that have to be assessed," he told Labour leader Alan Kelly.
Minister for Education Norma Foley and officials will host a meeting on Thursday of the Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations with all representative groups, including teachers and students. "I accept the need for clarity as quickly as possible," said Mr Martin.
In a Dáil question to Mr Martin, Mr Kelly said thousands of Leaving Cert students are waiting for an answer as to whether exams will go ahead as normal this year or if they will have the option of teacher-assessed grades, as has been the practice during previous pandemic exam years.
Replying, Mr Martin said Mr Harris would be engaging with representative groupings at a meeting of the Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations on Thursday.
The Taoiseach also acknowledged that the education and learning experience of “many students” had been disrupted. He said all planning for the 2022 examinations has been guided by public health advice.
It was announced last month that the oral and practical Leaving Cert examinations will take place over the first week of the school Easter holidays.
Mr Kelly said his party supported a hybrid model Leaving Certificate for this year, describing such a move as “absolutely necessary”.
“The stress these students are under at the moment is enormous,” he said.
‘Unfair’
Separately, the Ombudsman for Children said it is not fair to “force” children who have had two years of disrupted education to perform to their best with “small adaptations” to the traditional Leaving Cert format.
Dr Niall Muldoon said he was "fully supportive" of students who are not happy with the current plans for Leaving Certificate 2022.
“The students are telling us that the proposed accommodations do not fully address the disruption to education that students have experienced over the past two years. We must listen to what they are saying,” he said.
Dr Muldoon said current Leaving Cert students have suffered enormously over the course of the pandemic.
“The disadvantage of missing school, teacher absences and no online tuition was not equally distributed and it is impossible to know which students are most affected.”
Adjustments made to the exam papers in August did not foresee the level of disruption that would come, he said, while student calls for a hybrid model must be investigated.
“Is there a way to adapt the model used over the past two years to address the concerns of the education partners? All solution-focused options that are in the best interests of the children involved must be considered.”
Meanwhile, speaking in the Seanad on Wednesday afternoon Ms Foley said the Government was “extremely” conscious of the disruption experienced by the class of 2022.
While she did not rule out a hybrid exam, she said adjustments have been made to the written papers to include more choice, while oral exams will take place during Easter to minimise disruption to tuition.
“But notwithstanding that, it is important that all voices as regards how we progress will be afforded the opportunity to be heard,” she said.
She said the advisory group – which includes student, teacher and parent representatives – has been a useful forum throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
“It has worked very well. It has worked collaboratively and co-operatively in the best interests of the education section and, most notably, the students that we serve.”
