Leaving Cert timetable up for ‘serious consideration’
Mary Hanafin met 100 of this year’s Leaving Certificate students who spent two hours detailing grievances about exams.
Pupils from the classes of 2007 aired concerns over heavy handwriting for papers, the timing of language oral exams and the order of subjects tested, among others.
One girl explained how when she had finished both English exams this year, she went straight home, was exhausted and incapable of studying and went straight to bed.
Ian Shuddell, aged 18, who sat his exams in Oaklands College, Stillorgan, Dublin, said he would prefer to see exams spread out over five weeks, instead of cramming subjects into a few days: “I had time to study but I was kind of knackered.”
Ms Hanafin said she would give “serious consideration” to putting back English Paper One to between Easter and summer.
Students this year complained of hand cramps and stress after writing tens of pages for both English papers on day one of the exams.
“I’m very anxious to change as quickly as possible anything that will help improve students’ ability,” she said.
Ms Hanafin is also examining spreading out English, Irish and maths, traditionally held in the first three days of the exam. Spreading out English, Irish and maths beyond the first three days of exams was welcomed.
Ms Hanafin said, however: “This is not about major changes in the curriculum.”
Most exam students yesterday welcomed the idea of moving English Paper One, which includes essay writing, as long as a change does not affect practicals and projects in other subjects.
Grace O’Malley, 18, who sat her exams in Loreto College, in Foxrock, Dublin, is concerned about the stress around Irish results for primary teaching applicants: “It shouldn’t be necessary to get a C3 in Irish to be teaching children.”
While many were critical of the emphasis placed on written Irish papers, they were informed about more points being given to the oral exam this year.
The option of a break for all students between papers was not welcomed, as it would prolong exam periods.
The State Exams Commission said its decision on whether timetables would change for the 2008 Leaving Certificate would be decided this autumn.
Chief executive officer Pádraic McNamara said the commission would look at “rejigging” the exam papers.
