Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020
443. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has notified her EU counterparts of the decision to delay issuing the leaving certificate calculated grades until September 2020; if she has proposed plans to accommodate students studying at EU member state universities; if she requested flexibility for students coming from Ireland to study; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18196/20]
View answerGenerally, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous with regard to management of their academic affairs including admissions procedures, and as such, have administrative policies and deadlines in place to ensure that teaching and learning is delivered in a consistent manner to all of their students. All EU Member States have challenges similar to ours in addressing the concerns of students this year due to the COVID pandemic.
On 21st July, I wrote to the Ministers with responsibility for higher education in all of the EU Member States, advising them of the date of issue of the 2020 Leaving Certificate results. While recognising that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous with regard to management of their academic affairs including admissions procedures, I have requested that their authorities, including their universities, give special consideration to Irish students who may not have their Leaving Certificate results in time to complete the processing of their admissions at the usual time.
