The Minister for Education Norma Foley TD today announced that adjustments will be made to the assessment arrangements for students due to sit State examinations in 2023, to take account of the disruption to their learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The level of adjustment will be the same as that announced in August 2021 but updated as relevant. These adjustments will play to student strengths by leaving intact the familiar overall structure of the examinations, while incorporating additional choice for students in the examinations. In some cases, the adjustment measures will provide more time for tuition by, for example, reducing preparatory work for practical examinations.
They provide clarity, certainty and reassurance to students, their parents/guardians, teachers and schools in advance of the start of the 2022/2023 school year.
A document detailing the adjusted assessment arrangements for every subject/ module descriptor in the Leaving Certificate Established, Leaving Certificate Applied, Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and Junior Cycle programmes will be issued to schools next week, and schools will be asked to ensure that all students are made aware of these changes.
Speaking at Killarney Community College, where she met members of the Leaving Certificate class of 2022, Minister Foley said: “I am pleased to announce these adjustments to the assessment arrangements for Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examination students of 2023.
“I am keen to give as much clarity and certainty as possible to students this week as they begin the school term. I acknowledge that the Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle exam class of 2023 have experienced disruption in their learning at an important stage, as a result of the pandemic. I am confident that the adjustments announced today acknowledge the disruption faced by these students as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in a proportional manner, ensure fairness and equity for students, and are educationally appropriate. I would like to thank all the education stakeholders for their input in this matter.”
Earlier this week, the issue of the 2022 Examinations was discussed by the State Examinations Advisory Group. The advisory group includes representatives of students, parents, teachers, school leadership and management bodies, the State Examinations Commission (SEC), the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Education, including the National Educational Psychological Service.
Notes for Editors
The adjustments to the assessment arrangements for 2023 will be similar to the adjustments announced in August 2021, with appropriate updates, for example to take account of new subject specifications. These adjustments were arrived at through discussions between the Department of Education, the State Examinations Commission and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, and key stakeholders.
The changes will be made with due regard for the principles of equity, fairness and integrity, in relation to student-to-student, subject-to-subject, and year-to-year comparisons.
The changes reflect and recognise the loss of learning time students experienced in a fair manner with some contingency for future learning loss that may occur during the 2022/23 school year also built in.
ENDS