Exam timetable – Welcome changes

AS the Christmas and new year celebrations stagger towards a ceasefire of sorts, the 55,000 or so second-level students facing important exams this summer face into the final stage of their preparations.

Those studying for the Leaving Certificate will be pleased to learn that the timetable for the first five days of the exam has been revised to make it less daunting.

Anything that can be done to help students to reach their full potential is to be welcomed.

Anything that will encourage them to consider the courses that are perceived as being more difficult but vital to our economic recovery must also be welcomed and if this revised timetable does that it represents a good start to 2009.