Oral exam plans in doubt

PLANS to extend the use of oral Irish exams for Junior Certificate students are at risk because of a dispute between teachers and the Department of Education.

A policy change announced last May by Education Minister Mary Hanafin will increase the marks awarded for the optional oral component in the subject as part of changes to increase emphasis on the spoken language, as well as in the compulsory oral exam for Leaving Certificate Irish.

Students at only about a dozen schools take the oral exam which is conducted by class teachers, rather than external teachers who visit schools for orals in other subjects and Leaving Certificate Irish. The low uptake is mainly because of union policies that teachers should not do the work, which they believe should be paid because of the extra duties involved in preparing exam material, marking students and reporting results.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland has sought a meeting with the Department of Education. “We support the move to increase the emphasis on spoken Irish, although it should be compulsory for all schools,” said union education and research officer Bernie Judge.

“However, teachers should not be expected to examine their students without extra pay for the work involved,” she said.

The Department of Education said that it is aware of the union’s concerns and the matters are being considered.