Forecast is good – it must be the start of Leaving Cert

By Niall Murray Education Correspondent

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

TODAY’S weather forecast might not be for Saharan temperatures but the sun is due back by the weekend and the World Cup starts on Friday – so the Junior and Leaving Certificate exams must be starting today.

For most of the 116,334 students entered for exams, it all begins at 9.30am today with English papers.

The 4,700 superintendents handing out the exams have tighter rules from the State Examinations Commission to help avoid a repeat of last year’s situation that forced the rescheduling of the second Leaving Certificate English paper to a Saturday. The postponement of the second paper was enforced because a retired teacher handed it out in error when students at a Louth school were supposed to be taking English Paper One.

The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union called for swift action on plans to reform the exam system, which they say encourages rote learning to such an extent that it affects young people’s ability to adapt when they reach third level. A spokesperson said that while thousands crammed home economics facts and learned off English essays for today’s Leaving Certificate exams, much of the information would be forgotten as they move on to memorising Irish quotes, maths proofs and geographical facts for next week’s exams.

Those taking exams include 117 prison inmates taking Leaving Certificate papers and 161 who are entered for at least one Junior Certificate subject.

Tánaiste and Education Minister Mary Coughlan told students that, while the exams are an important milestone in their lives, they should keep them in perspective and keep in mind that there are many opportunities to continue their education after the Leaving Certificate.

Much focus will again be placed in August on results in maths, with a record-low 15% to 16% of Leaving Certificate students expected to sit the higher level papers on Friday and Monday. But 1,800 students at 24 schools will sit the first paper examining the new Project Maths syllabus aimed at increasing student interest in the subject.

This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, June 09, 2010