Dempsey considers Leaving Cert changes

The Education Minister Noel Dempsey has said he is exploring plans to reform the Leaving Certificate examination.

Minister Dempsey said the current situation, where students are expected to focus five years of lessons into a one-day exam, needs to be examined.

He has suggested that a revised three-year Leaving Certificate exam may be more appropriate to deal with early school leavers, and that continuous assessment models should be explored.

"There are about 19,500 pupils that don't get to Leaving Cert, they drop out after Primary or after Junior Cert, but they might benefit from a three year Leaving Cert and that's something we should consider.

"We should also consider the whole question of continuous assessment in some form or another".