Saturday exam plan criticised by teachers

PLANS by Education Minister Mary Hanafin to hold the first written Leaving Certificate exam on a Saturday in May, from next year, are facing opposition from teachers it emerged yesterday.

The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) has called on the minister to go back to the drawing board on reforming the exam timetable in an effort to ease pressure on students.

The first measure she hinted at is asking the State Examinations Commission to sit the first Leaving Certificate English paper on a Saturday during May.