More questions than answers for those awaiting Junior Cert results
Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has demanded that the Minister for Education appear before the Education Committee this week to outline the reasons behind the Junior Cert results delay.
Deputy Ó Ríordáin said the Minister has consistently shown massive disrespect to this group of students.
Deputy Ó Ríordáin said:
“The delayed release of the Junior Cert results is deeply disappointing and is further evidence of a Minister totally out of her depth. The chaos and uncertainty that has emanated from that Department since the formation of this Government is simply unacceptable.
“Students who worked hard over the course of a three-year period deserve to have this work recognised by the timely delivery of their results. Many students have choices to make – what levels they will take at senior cycle, what subjects compliment their style of learning, as well as questions students may have around further and higher education and apprenticeships.
“A two and a half month delay for the provision of these results for students is simply not good enough. Therefore, I am calling on the Minister to present herself to the Education Committee this week to outline the reasons for the delay and the remedies in place in the Department for next year’s Junior Cycle students.
“We are all too aware of many issues at play in the Department at present. The announcement of free school transport without any meaningful arrangements put in place has been a total fiasco. Unfortunately, as is often case, it is parents and local school communities picking up the pieces. Parents in Meath were forced to protest this morning over the school transport mess.
“The Minister cannot keep her head in the sand any longer on the range of issues at the Department of Education. In the spirit of resolving these issues and providing students, parents and school communities with the clarity they are crying out for, I am calling on the Minister to attend Education Committee this week.”