Education awards could be at risk, warn teachers

THE standards and reputation of further education awards could be at risk from proposed changes to assessment methods, teachers have warned.

The Further Education and Training Awards Council wants to allow colleges appoint their own external authenticators to approve marking of exams and other assessments on Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) and other courses under its remit. The council normally appoints external examiners to these colleges with powers to adjust grades up or down if appropriate.

But fears have been raised by the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) that the new system will be unfair and will lack transparency.