Officials alter exam paper after second ‘blunder’

AN Irish essay about road accidents had to be replaced on a Leaving Certificate paper at secondary schools in Navan yesterday after an English essay title about school buses upset some students the day before.

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) asked exam superintendents at the 16 centres in the four schools to cover over the title “Timpistí bóthair” (road accidents) with black marker on the ordinary level Irish Paper I. They then read the alternative essay - An Teilifís (the television) - to the 217 students who were due to take the paper yesterday afternoon.

The modifications were overseen by an official from the SEC.