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UNIONS HAVE CRITICISED the decision by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) to hold the Leaving Certificate oral exams during the Easter break as placing “unecessary” stress on students.
The oral examinations were moved to the Easter holiday period for the last two academic years. These exams were previously held during school term time either before or after the Easter break.
The SEC has now confirmed that the oral exams will take place in the first week of the Easter holiday period from Saturday, 23 March to Thursday, 28 March inclusive.
“The holding of the oral examinations during the Easter holidays, instead of during term time, assists in minimising disruption to teaching and learning in schools and in particular for those candidates preparing for their examinations,” the Department of Education said.
The president of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI), Geraldine O’Brien, said the examinations being held over the Easter break will place “additional and unnecessary stress on students”.
“It is vital that students get a break at Easter as this is their last opportunity to do so before they embark on their final preparations for the Leaving Cert exams,” O’Brien said.
“This point has already been raised by the students’ representative body the ISSU, as well as by students’ teachers. It is extraordinary that despite this, and despite commitments given to the ASTI regarding an extensive evaluation and engagement with stakeholders, the State Exams Commission is forging ahead,” she said.
The Irish Second Level Students Union (ISSU) has said today that it is “extremely disappointed” at the SEC’s decision.
“Students are put under undue pressure by taking the orals during Easter. This cuts into a deserved holiday period in which both students and teachers need to rest,” the union said.
The SEC is currently carrying out a detailed evaluation of the timing of oral exams into the future. It has commissioned research to explore parent, student, teacher, examiner and school leadership opinions about the timing of these exams.
“The SEC considered it was best to provide certainty now to the system and to students in relation to the 2024 oral examinations, so it has confirmed that they will take place during the Easter Holidays for this year,” the Department said.
According to the Department, the SEC found in its preliminary evaluation that “there were some challenges with the holding of the oral exams during the Easter Holidays due to the fact that students did not have access to normal term-time school support structures, such as their teachers”.
“In response, schools are being given additional funding for the Leaving Certificate oral examinations in 2024 to appoint a teacher to provide pastoral support to candidates, and ensure their attendance for the exam during the Easter holidays,” it said.
The SEC is to begin recruitment of Leaving Cert oral examiners for 2024 next week. The Department of Education said the rate of remuneration for oral examiners will again include a premium for examining over the Easter holidays, similar to last year.
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I’m sorry but 200 asylum seekers waiting accommodation while the young people of Ireland are still stuck in the parents box room. Stop letting them in if we have no room!!!
@ferrett: 60 free social houses handed to Irish people near me over the last year. It’s a great country
@Liam23: better irish to get it over asylum seekers.
@ferrett: mass deportations are desperately needed and a stop to all welfare tourism
Before the usual bitters start, this doesn’t impact teachers as it is optional. It impacts students, especially the hard working ones who need the break.
For who!!
@Dramafree 2023:
The staff!!!
@Dramafree 2023: You missed your calling if it sounds so easy.
It’s save them money to not pay subs for teachers doing the orals during term time. Was initially a gentleman’s agreement because of covid, now just rammed through.
So like last year students who board have to find accommodation as the school is not open for boarding… and students from abroad see their family for less time. Why can’t these be run in evening times if it’s so difficult to do during school time? And the added stress for dedicated staff, parents and others involved to encourage students to come in during holidays where some young people don’t want to be there during term time, never mind coming in on their holiday time. Am sure there are many other issues here. I know I had to assist a student last year to find accommodation so he could be near enough to attend his.
Doesn’t suit the teachers so deflect and say it will put the poor students, bless them, under stress
It’s a good idea, it’s impossible to find substitutes these days and existing students are left without their teacher for the week. Very disruptive for schools.
I remember having to do my leaving cert on a Saturday because they handed out the wrong paper
Remember they handed out the wrong paper and we were hoyed back in on a Saturday..I don’t recall any talk about stress or any other nonsense…get over yourselves
Teachers are the definition of lazy
@Murray peter: 100% disagree with this statement.
@Murray peter: you seem to know, since I doubt you ever went to school.
That is ridiculous
@liam mc meel: Why? The written exams are held during the holidays with no major problems, so I see no reason why the practical exams and oral exams can’t also be held during holidays, the 1st week of Easter.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: The next time you take annual leave your colleagues should just go ahead and schedule a mandatory suite of conferences, meetings and tasks for you to complete on your time off. Students should get to relax and spend time with their families.
@Josie Rosie: student have spent their entire lives relaxing
“The SEC is currently carrying out a detailed evaluation of the timing of oral exams into the future. It has commissioned research to explore parent, student, teacher, examiner and school leadership opinions about the timing of these exams”
Well, students, would you like to do without your Easter holidays coming up to one of the most stressful few months in your lives?
(a) Yes.
(b) No.
(c) Maybe!
More reason to work from home.
And if you check once again the car and the van pay more while the truck have quite no increase… But that’s what FFG is about
Its december so the leaving cert “debates” come around again as predictable as the stories about pets and fire works at halloween. The leaving cert has always been stressful for those who did it but now the added stress comes from the points race to get a college place that you can afford to pay for and the car to live in instead of student digs. Specials said working for the rat race in the 80s they were right.
have your say