Six weeks out from the start of the 2023 Leaving Cert exams, students are still in the dark as to when they will be able to collect their results.
There is a delay in announcing the date, as the State Examinations Commission (SEC) continues to finalise various aspects of the exams for 2023 - including potential deferrals and the recruitment of examiners.
Traditionally, results have been released in the middle of August, but last year they weren’t issued until September 2nd.
A spokesperson for the State Examinations Commission told Newstalk this was due to ‘well-documented’ issues and it remains to be seen what date this year's results will be released.
Those issues included a shortage in examiners, a provision for deferred examinations in cases of an illness or bereavement and a post-marking adjustment to give effect to Minister Norma Foley’s commitment that the results in 2022 would be, on aggregate, no lower than they were in 2021.
The SEC added that, “this measure required significant additional time following the completion of the marking process.”
"No cliff edge"
After the 2022 results were issued, Minister Foley made a commitment there would be “no cliff edge” drop in relation to grades in 2023.
“Arrangements to give effect to this commitment remain under consideration,” the SEC spokesperson said.
On examiner shortages, the Commission said it can’t currently say if this year will see the same shortages as last year.
“The SEC is reliant on and deeply appreciative of, the co-operation of schools and teachers in the successful administration and assessment of the certificate examinations each year," the SEC spokesperson said.
“The SEC is undertaking a comprehensive review of the issue of recruitment and retention of teachers as examiners, including working with all of the stakeholders to look at measures which will ensure the availability of teachers in the required numbers engage in this critical work in a sustainable way in the future.
“Our objective is to substantially increase the numbers of teachers involved so that the experience is a positive one which greatly enhances teacher professional competence as well as earning power.”
Leaving Cert
Meanwhile, schools are to receive details about a series of deferred examinations for this year in the coming weeks.
There has been no indication given as to when this year's Leaving Cert results date will be revealed.
