Sir, – In "Leaving Certificate urgently needs reform" (Opinion & Analysis, June 10th), Clive Byrne suggests that it is essential that all groups need to be made comfortable with the changes through extensive consultation and that a long lead-in time is essential.
The need for reform of the Leaving Certificate constitutes a national emergency, and the primary focus needs to be on ending this emergency.
The Government needs to name a firm timeframe by which reforms will be implemented, and all consultations with groups need to be completed within this time-frame.
Otherwise, attempting to get groups comfortable with “all changes”, taking whatever time is necessary to do so becomes the primary driver.
If this happens, reform of the Leaving Certificate will continue to be delayed, with the corresponding negative consequences for thousands of young Irish people and for the nation as a whole. – Yours, etc,
JAMES QUINN,
Rochester,
Michigan,
US.