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An official protocol must be put in place to document when a student, or their parents, attempt to pressure teachers to improve their calculated Leaving Cert scores to protect schools.
That’s according to Clive Byrne, director of the National Association of Directors and Assistant Directors (NAPD).
Lobbying or probing a teacher or principal in an attempt to influence a student’s grades or class ranking under this year’s Leaving Cert grading system would be completely inappropriate, he said.
“I think the necessary safeguards would have to be in place for the teacher and the school.”
“I think part of that protocol should be a written note that if a student or parent contacts someone to apply for a certain degree, or other things like that, a written record should be kept.”
This record would be taken into consideration by teachers and principals, and the Department of Education should also be informed, Mr. Byrne told RTÉ.
Schools and sixth-year students no longer need to talk about class work or enrollment, although they may contact for pastoral reasons, he added.
Mr. Bryne made his remarks after the momentous announcement that this year’s Leaving Cert exams will be removed and replaced by what the Department of Education describes as “calculated scores.”
This year, instead of a written exam, students may opt for calculated grades, which will be decided by their schools and then standardized by the Department of Education.
The process takes into account previous student outcomes and school work, as well as a class rating assigned by a teacher. These results will then be analyzed in a school before being sent to the Department of Education.
Students who wish to wait to take a written exam can wait to do so. Students who are not happy with their calculated grades can also take this exam. However, students who take this exam will not be able to do it in time to obtain a university place this year.
Speaking of RTÉ’s “The News at One”, Byrne also raised questions about whether schools will be able to carry out the necessary administration to submit their calculated scores before the deadline set by the Department of Education.
The department has asked schools to process and submit their scores as closely as possible in late May. However, teachers cannot return to schools until May 18.
“We will do our best to meet the deadlines, but it is extremely strict,” he said.
“There may be some flexibility within that, but it is very, very tight because the process that needs to be carried out is for each individual teacher to get a grade and a grade. Class ranking will be very, very important.”
“Then the teacher will have to discuss with his colleagues in the subject department area. Then, a report must be delivered to the principal for approval.”
When the principals are happy with the process, the data will be sent to the Department of Education. Education Minister Joe McHugh said he would like students to get their results as close to the usual date as possible.
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