Coronavirus in Ireland – Leaving Cert student ‘couldn’t be happier’ over Joe McHugh’s decision to cancel exams – The Irish Sun

THE Leaving Cert was canceled this week, with 60,000 students earning “calculated grades.”

Students who want to take the state tests may do so in the future, but not in time for this university year.

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Education Minister Joe McHugh previously proposed a start date of July 29 and said removing the exams “was done with a heavy heart.”

A special unit in the Department of Education will monitor predictive scores. Teachers will be asked to provide a “professional judgment on the achievement of each student” who will be “subjected to a rigorous school alignment process to ensure equity.” Principals will approve each student’s estimated scores and rankings in each subject at school.

Here, Cork Leaving Cert student MIKAELA LOUISE McNAMARA, 18, tells the Irish Sun on Sunday what she is making of the decision.

‘THE BEST POSSIBLE RESULT’

I COULD NOT be happier with Minister McHugh’s decision to cancel the Leaving Cert in favor of the predicted ratings.

In my opinion, this is the best possible result that we, the Leaving Certificate students, could have hoped for. It is simply not feasible to take the exams as previously scheduled on July 29.

The tension and uncertainty had accumulated in my house as the days passed. I am sure most of the sixth year students can relate to this.

The lack of guidance and leadership given to the students increased my frustrations and fears.

While I know that, in the grand scheme of things, Leaving Cert isn’t the life-altering exam it’s supposed to be, when you’re about to finish your education and reap the rewards of two years of intense learning, exams they become your sun, with all other aspects of your life orbiting around you like planets.

I am satisfied with the decision to use predictive scoring as I have worked very hard throughout my high school education. I am a motivated and determined young woman who will face any challenge and I feel that my expected grades will reflect my abilities.

I think since I have been working constantly I would have done well at Leaving Cert. However, I will never know what it might have been like if I had sat down the Leaving and I agree with that.

COMPLETE SECONDARY SCHOOL TRIP

Of course, part of me feels regretful, as every sixth-year student’s dream is a normal final year with minimal disruption and the ability to achieve their test goals. But I don’t feel hard about it. My work ethic will speak for itself and I think I will do as well as if I had taken my exams.

My journey with secondary education is essentially over.

There will be no time at school to catch up on grades and meet with teachers. There will be no nervous meetings to review in the minutes leading up to the exams and there will be no feeling of freedom when I walk through the door of Saint Aloysius College after finishing my final exam.

I might be sad about that, but life always throws us curved balls, it’s all part of the adventure. You have to learn to take the bad moments with the good ones. I routinely give up on school, especially after a particularly long day or a lot of work assigned for the weekend, but only now, with some distance, do I realize how important it was to my life .

The people I met there – students, teachers, office members, and caregivers – have had a hand in my growth over the years, and it’s safe to say I wouldn’t do as well in any system, predictive qualification, or traditional starting certificate. , without its impact on my life in a positive way.

It is a bittersweet ending to my education that I cannot have those heartfelt moments with my school community.

However, you would not be willing to risk public health just for the sake of an exam. One thing I noticed during this period of uncertainty is how powerful his voice is.

A few weeks ago I was writing angry letters to the Government about the dangers of presenting the Certificate of Exit and now I am here, grateful that so many others spoke: students, teachers, principals, and other members of the public.

The Government had no choice but to listen to us and calm our fears.

Regardless of what the future holds for us, the Leaving Cert class of 2020, I know we will achieve our heart’s desires, move on to bigger and better things, and those who have worked hard will be rewarded. I can’t wait to see what happens to us next.
Look at this space!

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