Education Minister defends decision to boost Leaving Cert grades this year

Minister for Education Norma Foley: “They did not sit the Junior Cycle and they did have to deal considerably with remote teaching and learning.”  Photo: Domnick Walsh

The Minister for Education has defended the decision to boost Leaving Cert grades this year, but stopped short of confirming whether or not record grade inflation will be tackled next year.

Norma Foley said the decision to adjust thousands of results upwards was taken in the interest of fairness for the Class of 2023. Students receiving their exam results on Friday did not sit Junior Cycle exams due to the covid-19 pandemic, a factor which was an “enormously important consideration”, according to the minister.