An element of education relief has been afforded to local Junior and Leaving Certificate students following the announcement by the Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD, that those who were due to sit the now cancelled oral and practical performance tests will be awarded full marks for this portion of their exam.
Speaking to the Athlone Advertiser this week upon hearing the news, Coláiste Chiaráin Principal, Mr. Brendan Waldron, welcomed the announcement during what has become an online period of education implementation for schools as the COVID-19 public health crisis persists.
“We were expecting an announcement with regard to the oral and practical performance tests and to finally have clarity on the matter will be an ease to those examination students.
“I am sure it was not an easy decision at which to arrive for the Minister but it has been formally announced now so students can focus their minds on the written examinations which I hope can still proceed in June,” Mr. Waldron commented.
Pertaining to off site education implementation, in particular to students sitting State examinations, Mr. Waldron noted that a this means of processing communication was very much a “learning curve”.
“We have been operating google for education within the school environment but in such surreal circumstances our online learning environment is now enhanced with students readily engaging in the online process.
“Obviously, the online education facility cannot replace the face-to-face education interaction with teachers, but my colleagues are available, when requested, to assist students. To this end, we must focus on what we, as educators, can do for our students whose every need must be acknowledged during these times,” Mr. Waldron commented.
With a formal start date of June 3 for the written Junior and Leaving Certificate examinations, Mr. Waldron is hopeful that this commencement date will remain in place to ease the lingering uncertainty presently prevailing among students.
“It is vital to have students’ minds at ease during this period of uncertainty. Parents are also under immense stress in this regard with employment issues prevalent, so the reality is, as teachers, we would hope the State examinations proceed on their original date.
“This, however, is out of our control at present, as we best heed and act upon the public health requests from the relevant bodies,” Mr. Waldron concluded.
Noting the decision taken by Government pertaining to the oral and practical performance assessments, Minister McHugh noted the challenging times which examination students are currently facing while out of school.
“This is a difficult time for all. Students are facing a challenging period out of school and our decision on this element of the exams is being taken with their best interests at heart.
“It is the fairest response we could take in the circumstances. It guarantees that no student will score less than they would have if schools had been operating as normal.
“We have seen a new emphasis on remote learning amid the uncertainty about the impact of Covid-19 and the closure of all schools. I hope this decision will ease some of the pressure that students are feeling and allow them to focus more clearly on completing project work and preparing for written exams,” Minister McHugh remarked.
The change to the 2020 state examinations means all students who were due to take oral and practical performance tests in the following subjects will be given full marks for this part of the examination.
Oral tests in Leaving Certificate Irish and the Modern Languages of French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Japanese.
Practical performance tests in Leaving Certificate Music and Junior Certificate Music and Home Economics.
Minister McHugh also confirmed changes to deadlines for students to complete project work and coursework in a number of subjects.
Students were originally scheduled to complete these elements of the state examinations on a number of dates from Friday, March 20 to Friday, April 24, depending on the subject. Students will now be given until Friday, May 15, to complete this work.
