Oral test teachers miss too many classes

Students are losing out on valuable classes, because teachers are testing Junior and Leaving Certificate teenagers in other schools, a schools’ leader has said.

Fr Paul O’Connell, president of the Joint Managerial Body, which represents management of 380 religious-owned second-level schools, has called for a major review of the timing of oral exams.

This year’s Leaving Certificate orals, in Irish and in other language subjects, took place during the middle two weeks of April, beginning just after schools reopened, following Easter holidays.