Junior exam ban to tackle crisis in literacy

STUDENTS are to be banned from studying any more than eight subjects at Junior Certificate level under plans to boost reading and writing skills.

Education Minister Ruairí Quinn has ordered the cap on the number of examinations a pupil can take to allow more time for learning basic literacy and numeracy.

Recent OECD research revealed that 17% of Irish 15 year olds lack the literacy skills to function in today’s society. One-in-five lack necessary numeracy skills.