Students win discrimination case against Dept of Education

Two former Leaving Cert students with Dyslexia have won a discrimination case they took against the Department of Education.

They were angry after notes were attached to their Leaving Certs, saying they were assessed on all parts of the exam apart from spelling and grammar.

The Equality Tribunal has found that this was discriminatory, and has ordered the Department to pay each claimant compensation of €6,000, and issue them with new certificates.

Niall Crowley chief executive of the Equality Authority has described the ruling as a landmark judgement.

"What the case highlights is an exam system that isn't accessible to people with disabilities and doesn't assess their abilities on an equal basis with other students.

"The next step is to review that exam system and change it in a way so it does become accessible to students with disabilities", said Mr Crowley.