Call for State and University Examinations to be cancelled
Peter Finnegan
Independent Candidate for Change on NUI Panel for Seanad Eireann
Press Release
Call for State and University Examinations to be cancelled
high level of worry and uncertainty amongst students
Kildare, 17 March 2020 Seanad Eireann candidate Peter Finnegan is calling on the Minister for Education & Skills to provide certainty to Junior, Leaving Certificate and university students worried about final exams in the current Coronavirus crisis.
Peter Finnegan said, “I have been contacted by University students facing final exams and by parents at second level who are anxious about the Leaving Cert exams. Individuals who are at these critical moments of their education journey need clarification and certainty.”
“I commend the Government for the strong and resolute focus on mobilising medical expertise and community solidarity to tackle the Coronavirus. In this emergency we are seeing a level of leadership that generates trust and is transparent. “
“Our greatest weakness however remains fear and worry. I call on the Minister for Education now to remove the fear and worry of the student population by taking resolute action in respect of final exams. This will also reduce the pressure faced by teaching staff and parents.
“We all know this Covid-19 health crisis will not see life return to normal in the next 12 weeks. So let’s defer now final university and Leaving Certificate examinations until September. The Junior Certificate should cancelled for this year. This simple, honest and realistic move would resolve the worry and uncertainty which is an unnecessary added pressure on teachers, parents and students in the middle of the greatest crisis we have faced as a nation since the Famine. “
“The establishment of a realistic timetable would also allow the dedicated and committed teaching staff in second and third level to assess and plan how they might make up lost teaching and curriculum delivery time for students over the next few months. The Leaving Cert and final university examinations have an influence on career choices. These June 2020 finishing classes should have the same opportunity that others have had. Let the virus not deny them, defer the exams now!”
“While I realise this will present challenges for the CAO process and university/college intake in October, it is feasible to allocate additional resources to marking and assessing exam papers, and delay the first year intake at third level by a month, lengthen term periods and make up ground over the 2020/21 academic year.
“Government and the public service are acting resolutely in respect of measures to address the immediate challenges to health and life. We need to see the same resolute, realistic and planned approach to minimising the collateral harm that can impact on individuals facing final exams.”
For further information, please contact:
Kathryn Byrne, Limelight Communications – 085 233 6033 / 01 668 0600
keep up the good work on behalf of the Irish people
Bringing Matterport 3D solutions to Businesses in Ireland
4 年I think the call’ and this article is very unhelpful. Surely a full discussion with informed parties would be a far better approach? Already, the article is being shared by Leaving Cert students who dread the suggested postponement. This causes more anxiety, not less. Regardless of your opinion, the solution needs to be thought through. Please let’s not publish articles like this.
Assistant Manager - Immigration - EY │Tax & Law │ People Advisory Services
4 年Dear Peter, I believe that the proposed framework of changes to Secondary School pupils and Third Level students will create a lot more stress, uncertainty and it will place additional pressure on the State system. Over the last few days, I spoke to a number of Third Level students who are currently enrolled in their last semester of 4 and 5 year long degree programmes. Although the decision to temporarily close our educational institutions was announced last week, most universities have already contacted their students with alternative examination arrangements in place which depending on the type of a lecture - will most likely take place in the form of a written, online assessment - an essay submission. Universities are continuously offering student support and are actively engaging with students via long distance communication networks. There are roughly 1 - 2 months of college left for Third Level Students and 3 months for pupils sitting the Leaving Cert. Students are using the time of self-isolation to revise the course, to exercise - which is beneficial to their mental and physical health and spending time with their families. To cancel or defer the current arrangements that are in place or that are being put in place will present challenges for students, who have already secured job placements, who have applied and have been accepted to pursue Master Degree Programmes in Ireland and abroad. Although the above might be delayed for obvious reasons, we cannot accept to put our young and bright generations futures on hold. Students are ready to sit their finals ‘exams’. We will struggle to provide more resources to the marking and assessment of exam papers. Term periods should not be lengthened - why overhaul a scrupulous and internationally renowned educational system? This will shuffle the holidays scene - the annual and traditional leave that parents and families take, the renting periods of student college accommodation (which most struggle to afford, in first place). We must finish what we have started. We cannot afford to delay the education of our State, of our future. We have one of the best educational systems in the world and this is our time to show our leadership and resilience to the world. Together we stand tall.