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The Government says it is determined to go ahead with planning for the Leaving Cert this year, with or without the agreement of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI).
Despite the union’s decision to withdraw from planning talks for this week’s exams, a spokesperson for Education Minister Norma Foley said planning will continue this weekend as the Covid-19 pandemic threatens to disrupt the Leaving Cert for the second year.
The spokesperson said Ms. Foley was committed to bringing “clarity and certainty” to students as soon as possible.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin also pledged to “put students first” in government talks with unions. “Students must be priority number one. They are going through a lot of anxiety, stress and tension right now, ”he said. “And all parties on this issue need to do what we can to ease that stress and that means clarity pretty soon.”
Draft plans
According to preliminary plans, the 60,000 Leaving Cert students would have the option to take advantage of calculated grades and complete written exams in June if they wanted, according to well-placed sources. No agreement had been reached on how oral and practical examinations could contribute to this process.
The ASTI, however, said that these plans were “unacceptable” on the basis that the calculated ratings would be the “dominant” option, with the Leaving Cert relegated to “filling the evaluation gaps.”
Instead, the union appears to favor a model in which tests are mandatory with an alternative option of calculated grades or where students must choose between calculated grades or exams.
ASTI officials met with Ms. Foley yesterday in an attempt to find a resolution. The union subsequently said it would continue to participate, but did not say it was prepared to re-enter planning discussions.
Government sources say a memorandum on the Leaving Cert, along with plans to reopen schools, is being prepared for discussion in Cabinet next Tuesday. It is likely to reflect the Coalition’s view that students should be given certainty.
Going ahead with Leaving Cert plans without ASTI support can put the union in an unfair position where teachers would have to choose between following the leadership or facilitating their students. However, there is a recognition within the Government that obtaining union support is the preferable option.
‘Horrible situation’
The Teachers’ Union of Ireland, meanwhile, said it will continue to work with the Department of Education to try to secure the “best possible solution to a dire situation for students, families and teachers.”
It is understood that you are more open to giving students a choice, but you want a number of key concerns to be addressed.
TUI Secretary General Michael Gillespie said he wanted a “meaningful” certificate of completion and a format to keep students engaged toward the end of the school year.
Separately, talks about the gradual reopening of elementary and middle schools are scheduled to begin next week.
Government and union sources say March 1 is being scrutinized as a potential date to gradually reopen primary schools, subject to public health advice. At the second level, ambition is a gradual return beginning in late February or early March, beginning with sixth-year students.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) reported another 23 deaths of Covid-19 patients on Friday, bringing the total number of Covid-related deaths in the pandemic to 3,865. Nphet also reported 921 confirmed cases of the disease, bringing the total to 207,720.
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