Staff cuts contributed to high number of Leaving Certificate exam paper errors

Significant staffing cuts contributed to the large number of mistakes in this year’s Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate exam papers, the State Examinations Commission has said.

While it said the number of mistakes was “unacceptably high” and human errors were the reason, the SEC detailed how staffing cuts and changes weakened its oversight systems and said this was a significant factor.

It said 40% of the staff in its examination and assessment division had departed over the last three years, mostly due to incentivised schemes introduced as part of the Government’s public service reform drive.