Minister for Education Norma Foley has confirmed that there will be concessions made for next year's Leaving Cert, adding there "will be no cliff edge in that regard".
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, the minister congratulated this year's Leaving Cert students on a "phenomenal achievement" as she acknowledged the challenges they have faced over the last few years because of the pandemic.
Minister for Education Norma Foley says it's a 'significant morning’ for 61,107 students as they get their Leaving Cert results. She thanks students, school staff and parents for their dedication after some ‘very challenging and demanding years’ | Read: https://t.co/WPu45uIsZj pic.twitter.com/bNCmxjS8xR
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 2, 2022
She said that measures, such as accredited and calculated grades, were introduced so that students were not adversely impacted during Covid-19 restrictions.
"This year we had two sittings of the Leaving Certificate and I think it was important. The students themselves asked for this," the minister noted.
The accredited grades process had been introduced in "fairness to the students" and had led to "inflation", which would require concessions for the class of 2023, she added.
"I have been very clear there will be no cliff edge and that will be the same for 2023," Minister Foley vowed.
Minister for Education Norma Foley has confirmed that there will be concessions made for next year's Leaving Cert, adding there 'will be no cliff edge' | Read more: https://t.co/QoDVz5F01r pic.twitter.com/n7qasQjlVB
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 2, 2022
She added that there will be greater choice on the papers, which will give students "greater freedom, greater flexibility and, I would suggest, greater confidence".
Regarding grade profiles going forward, she said a body of work has to be done by the State Exams Commission (SEC).
This morning, more than 61,000 Leaving Cert students could access their results online, including 12,452 who opted for the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and a further 3,051 who followed the Leaving Certificate Applied.
Ms Foley also said there is a general acknowledgement across all the partners in education that there is a need for reform of senior cycle and she had engaged extensively with experts about the appropriate measures that could be brought in for senior cycle reform.
She said there is a financial cost to the new measures but an investment in students was an investment well worth making.
The minister said it was important that a second sitting of the Leaving Cert be available to students who were affected by Covid-19 or bereavement, and as a consequence of that the results are later than normal, but still earlier than last year.
She said if exams were brought forward to an earlier date this would bring enormous challenges. She said further deliberation will be given as to whether a second sitting will be available for the class of 2023 but she could see it being of benefit.
The minister repeated that there was "no grade inflation this year comparable to last year".
Students welcome remarks
Meanwhile, the Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU) thanked Minister Foley for her comments.
President of the ISSU Caitlin Faye Maniti expressed approval that the update "was released promptly, delivering clarity for the Class of 2023", and is "vital to giving students the opportunity to put their best foot forward".
The Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) congratulated students, telling them that "your teachers are extremely proud of you".
ASTI President Miriam Duggan said that, regardless of the result obtained, "all of you have achieved an important milestone in your lives".
"Know that the skills, experiences and resilience you have developed in the last number of years will stand to you," she said.
Additional reporting Joan O'Sullivan
