Sinn Fein’s Donnelly calls for cross-party support on Leaving Cert motion

Sinn Féin TD for Dublin West, Paul Donnelly, has called for cross-party support on motion that would mandate the Minister for Education to secure a choice for this year’s Leaving Cert students between calculated grades and written examinations.

The motion, which will be debated in the Dáil on Tuesday, is being brought forward by Sinn Féin spokesperson on Education Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD.

Deputy Donnelly said that this year’s Leaving Certificate students “cannot continue to be left in limbo.

“The message from Leaving Cert students could not be any clearer; they need a choice, between written exams and calculated grading, in recognition of the significant disruption they have experienced in their learning over the last two years due to Covid-19.

“The findings of a poll by the ISSU, the largest representative body for second-level students on the island, this week show that over two thirds of Leaving Cert students want a hybrid exam model this year,” he says.

Donnelly says that the current proposal for the exams “simply cannot go ahead.”

“The Minister and her Department continue to act as though this has been a normal academic year for Leaving Cert students, when we know that it has been anything but.

“A significant proportion of students have lost teaching time due to personal self-isolation or self-isolation of their teachers, coupled with school closures in their fifth year.

“There are many students who – completely outside of their control – simply have not had the opportunity to cover the curriculum in its entirety.

“I call on all deputies and the three Government Ministers in Dublin West to support Sinn Féin’s motion, which would mandate the government to listen to the voices of students and ensure that the class of 2022 get clarity and a Leaving Cert based on choice.”