Changes to practical elements of LC and JC exams welcome
Labour Party Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Education and Skills, that elements of the Leaving Certificate have been cancelled.
Deputy Ó Ríordáin said:
“The move taken by the Minister for Education to cancel all practical and oral elements of the Junior and Leaving Certificate exams is to be welcomed.
“Many students and parents who I have spoken to in the last week were extremely anxious about whether these exams were to take place or not, as a lot of preparation can only take place with a teacher present.
“Exam year families are rightly a bit anxious about the nature of this health emergency, so students and their parents need as much clarity at this stage as possible. I know there is a lot of insecurity in Irish society right now, but students and their teachers need certainty at this most uncertain of times.
“The Minister for Education must convene a meeting of all education spokespeople, and work with education stakeholders in order to bring the greatest possible clarity to students and their parents and guardians.
“Giving young people the information they need at this time is critical. Yesterday, at an Oireachtas briefing with the HSE, I called for a youth-specific information campaign to be coordinated to stop the further spread of COVID-19 amongst the 18-30 cohort, modelled on a similar scheme to one that is taking place in Norway.”