Students denied spelling exemptions for Leaving Cert

Concerns have been raised that students given supports to take account of learning difficulties in the Junior Certificate are not receiving the same allowances when they sit the Leaving Certificate.

Sean Sherlock, junior minister at the Department of Education, told the Dáil that 1,353, just over one third, of the 3,940 students who applied for a spelling and grammar waiver in language exams at the 2012 Leaving Certificate were refused by the State Examinations Commission (SEC).

Jonathan O’Brien, the Sinn Féin education spokes-man, queried why it was so high, and the fact that no reason is given to students or their parents, except to be told their application has not been successful: “I have received correspondence from a number of parents of children who have been refused supports for the Leaving Certificate examination, having previously received them at Junior Certificate level.

“Applications have been refused, despite letters of support being provided both by the schools in question and clinical psychologists who assessed the children.”

SEC figures provided to the Irish Examiner show that 5,001 of last year’s Junior Certificate candidates were given an exemption from testing in spelling and grammar, but only 2,587 Leaving Certificate students got one.

Mr Sherlock explained that schools can recommend the granting of reasonable accommodations in the Junior Certificate for students with special educational needs, but anything granted will not automatically be carried on to the Leaving Certificate.

“Instead, all applications for accommodations in the Leaving Certificate are referred by schools to the National Educational Psychological Service for a decision,” said Mr Sherlock.

However, he said it was not possible to tell how many students granted a spelling and grammar waiver in the Junior Certificate were refused one in the Leaving Certificate, as each file would have to be checked manually.

An SEC spokesperson said that, even though candidates may have a specific difficulty with reading, writing or spelling, they may not require the provision of any special facilities provided they can read the exam papers at the required level and write legibly.

The 7,588 spelling and grammar waivers in 2012 were among 19,397 reasonable accommodations granted to 14,633 students in both exams. Other supports and allowances can include provision of a reading assistant or a scribe, permission to use a computer, use of a tape-recorder, or exemption from components such as listening tests.

Mr Sherlock said just 32 out of 513 appeals to an independent appeals committee were successful last year.

Mr O’Brien said it was very harsh that students were not given any explanation by the SEC for the refusal of applications and the failure of appeals.