Published on
Minister for Education and Skills wishes 116,500 students the best of luck as State exams begin
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD, wished over 116,500 students across the country the best of luck as they begin the State exams this morning.
The Minister said:
“I want to send my best wishes to all those students sitting the Leaving and Junior Certificate examinations over the coming two weeks. After many long hours of study and preparation, 55,550 Leaving Certificate students, 57,732 Junior Certificate students and 3,245 Leaving Certificate Applied students finally get the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and skills across a range of areas. This marks an important milestone in their lives”.
Exams in 90 curricular subjects, including those at higher, ordinary and foundation levels, will take place in exam centres across the country. In addition, native speakers from other EU countries will sit examinations in their mother tongue at Leaving Certificate level in 15 non-curricular languages, such as Polish, Lithuanian and Romanian.
This year, students in 24 schools will sit a new examination paper in the Junior Certificate in mathematics (Paper 2) for the first time, following the introduction of Project Maths in 2008. Leaving Certificate students in these schools will sit new papers across four of the five strands of mathematics.
Minister Quinn said...
“This is an important reform in the efforts to ensure that Ireland’s education system keeps pace with changing needs. The experiences in these schools will inform the development of Project Maths as it is rolled out in all schools, a process which began in September 2010,“
He added the State exams can be very stressful for both students and families, and that he appreciated the great support that students receive from their teachers, parents, families and friends at this time.
The Minister said...
“I hope students will be able to keep the exams in perspective and realise that there are many ways and opportunities for you to continue your education after the Leaving Certificate. I know your hard work will pay off and I wish you every success.”