Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
884. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if teachers will be compensated for working during the Easter break on the oral and practical examinations under the proposed changes to the leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20024/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the deputy is aware, on 29 March I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their Senior Cycle experience. The three tenets of Senior Cycle reform are to:
- Empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century
- Enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system
- Embed wellbeing and reduce student stress levels
The reforms I announced include initiatives to spread the assessment load for students and do so in a way that enhances student wellbeing. In future years, I want to see language Oral examinations and the Music practical performance taking place during the first week of the Easter break of 6th year, in similar fashion to the Easter 2022 arrangements which I announced last December. The advice of the State Examinations Commission (SEC) on the implementation of these changes on a permanent basis, following an evaluation of the arrangements in 2022 by the SEC, will be duly considered in this regard.
The management of the State examinations including the Oral components to the language subjects is a matter for the SEC. At present, the Commission recruits the required examiners in a given subject on short term contracts under which payments are made to examiners for the work undertaken.
