Labour warns of unfair Leaving Cert squeeze
Labour warns of unfair Leaving Cert squeeze - The Labour Party
Labour’s Education Spokesperson Eoghan Kenny TD has raised the alarm about proposed changes to the Leaving Certificate grading system which are expected to reduce grade inflation for the first time in five years.
This move would see inflated grades drop from 7.5% to 5.5% for the Class of 2025—placing this year’s students at a serious disadvantage compared to applicants from the past five years.
Deputy Kenny said:
“The deflation in grades for this year’s students will have a negative effect on their opportunity to access the third level course they have worked extremely hard for.
“We know that over a quarter of this year’s CAO applicants sat their Leaving Certificate between 2020 and 2024—years where significant grade inflation was applied due to the impact of the pandemic and related disruptions. These students are fully entitled to reapply through the CAO, but we cannot ignore the unfair playing field this creates.
“By reducing grade inflation this year, the Department of Education is effectively moving the goalposts for the Class of 2025. It creates an unacceptable lottery-style system for students accessing their preferred third level degree, where hard work risks being trumped by statistical disadvantage. That is simply not fair.
“I have spoken with teachers, students and parents across the country, and the message is consistent: this policy shift feels punitive. It doesn’t recognise the pressures still facing students post-Covid, nor does it acknowledge that learning loss and mental health issues continue to impact many.
“Instead of gradually phasing out inflated grades while protecting current students, the Department has chosen a sharp drop that places disproportionate pressure on one cohort. These students are not asking for special treatment. They’re asking for fairness.
“It is not on students or parents to come up with the solutions. It is on the Department. The Labour Party will continue to advocate for fairness, transparency and equity in our education system. Students who work to the best of their ability deserve a system that supports their ambitions—not one that stacks the odds against them.”