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Fianna Fáil says Leaving Cert exams should be cancelled

Fianna Fáil has called on the Government to cancel this year's Leaving Certificate exams. Educat...
Jack Quann
Jack Quann

14.05 2 May 2020


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Fianna Fáil says Leaving Cert...

Fianna Fáil says Leaving Cert exams should be cancelled

Jack Quann
Jack Quann

14.05 2 May 2020


Share this article


Fianna Fáil has called on the Government to cancel this year's Leaving Certificate exams.

Education Minister Joe McHugh has previously said the Government aims to start the State exams on July 29th.

Students have already been told they will automatically be awarded full marks in their oral exams, which were cancelled.

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Several alternatives to holding the exams have been floated, including a predictive grading system for students based off previous work.

While Fianna Fáil education spokesperson Thomas Byrne has said the Government must now cancel the exams, on the back of a roadmap to re-open the country.

Deputy Byrne said: "This document contains details about the phased re-opening of certain sectors and industry, and sets out dates for the proposed lifting of certain restrictions but not once is the Leaving Cert mentioned.

"I believe this is a huge oversight and it has added to the already heightened anxiety among Leaving Cert students.

"Under this roadmap primary and secondary schools are not set to open until autumn, yet in an announcement made by the Education Minister a few weeks ago, the Leaving Cert was earmarked to begin at the end of July.

"Leaving Certs are essentially back where they started in March: unsure what the situation is, and whether the exams will be going ahead.

"While this is a challenging time for everyone right now, it’s unfair to underestimate the stress and anxiety that Leaving Cert students are feeling as the uncertainty about their exams and their futures continues.

"The inequities inherent in self learning online are well known.

"I believe the Government cannot continue to adopt this wait and see approach with the Leaving Cert.

"It is becoming clearer with every week that passes that it is simply not tenable for it to proceed.

"The time has come to make the call to cancel the Leaving Cert and take the pressure off students, parents and their teachers."

Mr Byrne also said he discussed alternatives with some universities and with Minister McHugh over the last few weeks.

"They do exist and we must now switch our focus to them", he added.

Main image: A Leaving Certificate paper from 2015. Photo by: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

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