Students' view: Notion that we ‘don’t mind’ lost school days insulting

The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU), the national representative body for second-level students in Ireland, would like to remind everyone that it is the students who are most impacted by these strike days, through no fault of their own.

We are very aware that mock exams are just around the corner and that students are feeling the pressure and stress from missing days at school. While we know there are students who will say they are glad of a day off, our members are insulted by the notion that students “don’t really mind”.

Students currently in exam years and students with special learning needs are most affected by time lost due to strikes.

While some students feel capable of studying independently on strike days, those who struggle with certain aspects of studying are the students who will be most disadvantaged from missing classroom time and teacher support. Our members are especially concerned over class time missed for exam projects.

Glen Kiely, the education officer for ISSU, is worried that he will not be able to make up for lost time to complete his classroom based projects in time.

“Because of the strikes, I will be missing seven classes (some of them double classes) of design and computer graphics. For the Leaving Cert, DCG students are required to do a project, which is due early next year. The time lost from these strikes puts me under a lot of pressure as we come closer to the deadline. Less class time means that I, and many of my fellow students, will risk not having the time to finish my project, or not finish them to as high a standard as I would like.”

Maeve Richardson, a sixth-year student from Tipperary, said: “The strike frustrates me. I understand that they want to strike but as someone with ASD [autism spectrum disorder] I am someone who needs structure and routine.

“The strikes throw me out of my routine. I feel like I should try and get as many days in school as I can to keep up with my classmates as I do tend to be very tired on normal days and fall behind quite quickly.”

The ISSU is also concerned that these strikes will be a detrimental to exam students in ASTI schools. TUI schools have remained open and students are not missing out on classes.

This will mean that students in ASTI schools will be at a disadvantage when it comes to their exams, compared to students in TUI schools.

No student should have to face into an exam having lost out on valuable preparation time, through no fault of their own.

The ISSU is urging the ASTI and the Department of Education and Skills to seek a resolution immediately so that no students will be disadvantaged as a result of lost days at school.

In the meantime, we are calling on both parties to put forward proposals to limit the negative impact on students.

Jane M Hayes-Nally is a 17-year old student from Cork and is president of the ISSU.