Concern for Libyan students

MYSTERY surrounds the whereabouts of 10 students from Tripoli, Libya, who were due to take their Leaving Certificate English papers in Malta yesterday.

The State Examinations Commission had arranged an exam centre there for some of the 52 students at the International School of the Martyrs in the Libyan capital who were unable to travel to Ireland for their exams.

Although communication with the school has been difficult because of the ongoing unrest, the commission said it was told by school authorities a fortnight ago that 10 candidates were already on the Mediterranean island and would be ready to sit their exams from this week.

However, none of the expected students turned up at the exam centre yesterday. The commission said it is trying to contact the school authorities and the exam centre will stay open until tomorrow to provide for any student who had difficulty getting there in time for the start of the Leaving Certificate. A commission spokesperson said the situation will be reviewed tomorrow.

The school has offered the Leaving Certificate since 1997, choosing it over other internationally-recognised exam systems for school leavers. The exams are held under the same conditions as here but the commission decided earlier this year that it was unsafe to hold the Leaving Certificate in Libya.

However, as well as facilitating students who have come to Ireland to sit the exams, the commission made arrangements with the assistance of the Irish ambassador in Malta and the local education services.