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Junior Cert Exams. Pictured is a student from Trinity Comprehensive School in Ballymun. Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
The Daily Poll
Poll: Should exams matter less in the Junior Certificate?
Many Junior Cert exams are likely to be replaced with portfolio-based assessments under new proposals currently being considered. What do you think – should exams matter less in the Junior Certificate?
A new portfolio-based system that would focus on the completion of a piece of coursework, rather than repeated class tests, was “certainly on the cards”, a spokesperson for the Department of Education has confirmed to TheJournal.ie. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has suggested that the reforms would put greater emphasis on learning – rather than simply preparing for an exam.
As yet, however, the proportion of marks that would be allocated to exams and to coursework has not been decided upon. Some reports indicate that the a 50-50 split between exams and coursework, or a 60-40 split in favour of exams, are being considered.
What do you think – should exams matter less in the Junior Certificate?
Poll Results:
Yes, marks should be split 50/50 between exams and coursework (407)
Yes, but more than half of marks should be allocated for coursework (258)
No, the marking system is fine as it is (89)
No, there should be greater emphasis on exams (76)
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If the stream is so polluted and the only solution is deemed to be the use of bleach, there is something very wrong with the council employees’ thought processes.
@Bramley Hawthorne: This is Water infrastructure, you start from the symptoms and work back, then give up and just keep paying lip service to the symptoms regardless of the actual state of things. In fairness we’re lucky they didn’t just start charging for use of the beaches.
I’d rather buy a bottle of water in aldi. Haven’t drank water from a council running tap for years now. Always boil yer water folks just for safe measure.
I’ve been saying about the amount of chlorine in our drinking water for years now it’s disgusting it smells like a swimming pool. Then add a dose of fluoride, have had to buy bottled water for about 12 years now maybe more!
@Colette Kearns: i regularly test water mains for chlorine as a control test for testing the chlorine levels of a spa swimming pool, Ive never had the control test show the presence of chlorine. Mind you thats not to say there aren’t other chemicals present such as flouride
@Colette Kearns: I use a reverse osmosis filter for all drinking and cooking water. The last time I did an analysis the water rain in the rain butt was purer than the unfiltered tap water.
@G man: Not sure what source the spa is taking water from, but chlorine is added to virtually all public water supply with the exception of some group water schemes.
Waterford has backed it’s own decision but it is time to reconsider. It is a stream not a swimming pool. And be a bit more transparent also. Someone shouldn’t have to smell bleach for this issue to come to light.
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The Daily Poll
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