Changes to Leaving Cert to be delayed

Major changes to how Leaving Certificate exams are graded, and cuts to numbers of courses offered by colleges from what was available in 2011, will not take effect for another two to three years — at least a year later than first planned.

They are part of a process started by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn after taking office in 2011 to reduce the pressure of the college points system and its effects on learning in second level.

It was proposed a year ago that the first changes would begin by autumn 2014, but phased implementation will now only start with students starting fifth year in September 2015, most of who will sit the Junior Certificate this summer and go on to transition year in the interim.