Call to review policies on exam ‘abilities’

EDUCATION Minister Mary Hanafin has asked the State Examinations Commission to re-examine certain policies and practices such as footnotes on Leaving certificates.

“It is important that our system continues to evolve in line with best practice, promoting high standards of quality and integrity, while ensuring access, participation and benefit for all our students,” she said yesterday.

According to the Department of Education, a footnote on the Leaving Certificate only applies where a core element in a particular subject is not assessed, to ensure fairness for students who have been assessed in these components, and in order not to mislead the end user of the certificate.