Positive response to exam proposals

TEACHERS and students have responded positively to a proposal to break up the Leaving Certificate exams into two sittings with some papers, practicals or project work taken earlier in the year.

The changes would not affect students about to enter Leaving Cert cycle, however, as it is likely to take several years to work out the practical arrangements.

The proposal came to light yesterday in a letter sent by Education Minister Mary Hanafin to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) in response to a masterplan the Council submitted last April for wide-ranging reform of senior cycle subjects, curriculums and examinations.