Government Fears Lawsuits Over “Calculated Ratings” When Leaving Cert Postponed

The government is concerned about its exposure to legal action by students who may miss out on university places after its decision to replace the Leaving Cert with a “calculated grades” system.

Education Minister Joe McHugh announced Friday that the tests will not be held this summer for the first time in nearly 100 years.

Instead, students will have the option of receiving teacher-calculated grades based on their schoolwork or passing written exams in late 2020 or early 2021, subject to public health counseling.

However, Mr. McHugh has admitted that there are “legal vulnerabilities” with the new plan, while the Attorney General is understood to have informed Ministers of the areas of concern.

It is understood that they relate to the legitimate expectations of students to take an exam, as well as their right to take a university place after obtaining the Certificate of Exit.

Under the plan, students who take the written exams will not be able to take their college places in the next academic year and will have to wait until next year.

Protection

However, ministers believe that the fact that there is a strong public health council demonstrating that it is not safe to proceed with the examinations can offer protection against any litigation.

The cabinet also heard concerns from large numbers of ministers about the impact on students who are forced to wait until later in the year to sit for the exam.

Impartiality and the impact on people from disadvantaged backgrounds were also feared.

A cabinet source said there was a “substantial opposition body” and “many expressed reservations” and “very strong resistance.”

“The discussion was solid. It was a different atmosphere than regular meetings, “said one main source.

Meanwhile, the executive committees of the two high school teachers unions met on Friday night to discuss the plans.

The Union of Teachers of It is understood that the Irish Executive Committee (TUI) is prepared to accept the plan, while the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) was still debating the matter on Friday night. Sources said that while there were deep reservations, it was also recognized that there was no viable alternative.

School principals, meanwhile, said they were prepared to support the measure as there was no “perfect solution,” while student representatives said the measure finally gave test candidates the necessary clarity. .