As the parent of a 2020 Leaving Cert student, I have every sympathy for the class of 2021 and the uncertainty caused by the continuation of the Covid-19 pandemic for those students and their families. The debate which surfaced in April of last year has already begun in relation to the leaving cert of 2021, and whether the exam should be conducted in the 'traditional' format, or in a 'predicted grades' scenario, similar to last year.
At present the most important thing for Leaving Cert students is to engage fully with their teachers and schools and to study on the basis that the Leaving Cert exam will go ahead in June as normal. Assuming vaccine rollout reaches the expected levels, that is by far the most likely scenario, and it is important that students are not distracted and do not lose focus in the interim. If matters do not progress along the expected lines, it is also important that students realise the system will adjust to deal with whatever scenario arises, and they should avoid any unnecessary stress and anxiety along the way.
It is to be hoped the current debate will encourage a total review of the exam process, and how our existing system can be improved in the coming years. The assessment process needs to be much broader, but that will not happen for any student currently in second level education. Coming back to this year, if classrooms cannot be opened to students in the coming weeks, then it would be unfair to ask them to sit an exam in June.There are a number of reasons for this.
Variations in teaching standards
If our primary objective as a country is to minimize the risk to the health of people from the virus outbreak, is forcing a Leaving Cert exam on students in the summer likely to help with, or damage, this objective? I know there are variations in teaching standards all the time, but those standards have varied even more widely in the March to May period of 2020, over the last few weeks, and doubtless will over the coming months, if the classrooms remain closed.
Most teachers are continuing to work hard, are conducting online classes and are helping their students every way they can. Others, however, are not communicating with students in an acceptable manner.
Online access, broadband and availability of laptops and smartphones vary widely across the country, and in communities. The unfairness suffered by those living in disadvantaged areas is compounded by online learning. As the weeks go by, without Leaving Cert students attending school, the system is becoming more unfair, not the other way around.
If schools do not reopen by March, then April would be a better and fairer time to press the ‘evaluate’ button than either June, or later in the year. A study by the ESRI based on the 2020 lockdown showed students from poorer areas suffered the greatest learning losses.
Those affected by the virus
If the exam goes ahead this summer, how many teenagers have grandparents or parents or siblings who will have been directly affected by this virus: can they sit the exam on an equal footing with their friends? Up to last year, we had no real history of predicted results: at least now, we have the experience of 2020. If a student sitting an exam shows symptoms of Covid-19, will all students who attended that exam have to isolate?Too many young people suffer anxiety or stress: are we now going to add to the difficulties young people are faced with, or maybe, for once, give them a break?
A report last year by the National Educational Psychological Service showed Irish students have far higher levels of exam related stress than their peers in other countries. We need to examine the reasons for this, but, in the meantime, we should try to improve the situation. Does anyone really believe we will have less competent engineers or nurses or carpenters or anything else coming on stream in 3 or 4 years time if we do not undertake the traditional Leaving Cert this year? Or that those who immediately enter employment on leaving school will not do as good a job as those who entered in previous years?
This virus outbreak is making us all view the world a little more differently, and I hear people say they hope it makes us a little kinder; wouldn’t it be wonderful if the state set the example in this area by how it treats its teenagers. Students will feel a sense of loyalty and allegiance to the state if it is seen to help them, and be on their side, at this difficult time. This may pay significant dividends in the future and help students avoid the lure of those who would critisize and undermine our state.
Predicted grades or written exams, which is more accurate?
A decision will need to made in the coming weeks on this issue. If school attendance for Leaving Cert students can be facilitated by March, then it should be 'all systems go' for the June exam. However, if classes cannot resume before March, a decision should be made to use a similar system to 2020, but also learning from the mistakes of last year.
The grades awarded by teachers must also be subject to rigorous, independent audit. I read recently that predicted grades were inaccurate as in a recent analysis of A Level results, it was shown that predicted grades were only accurate in 16% of cases. But, maybe it was the exams that were inaccurate, and the predicted grades were a better reflection on the students ability! It is clear that teachers, the Department of Education and Skills and Minister Foley are determined the June exams should go ahead.
I do feel some sympathy for the Minister, as she is being asked to bring certainty to an area for which there is no certainty available. Last April, then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar said the 2020 Leaving Cert would go ahead 'by hook or by crook'. It is important a similar mistake is not made this year. The traditional Leaving Cert is without doubt the fairest system, but it may not be available to us in the fairest form in June 2021.
An absence from the classroom of up to 6 months in the two year Leaving Cert cycle has ensured this. Ultimately, the Covid-19 case numbers will determine what path is followed, and we all have a role to play in ensuring those numbers continue to reduce, and life, in all aspects, can return to normal. One final piece of advice to students is to read the 'words of wisdom' many have contributed on these pages in relation to their 16 year old self, and note the common themes.
'Don't worry, be happy, be kind to yourself, the leaving cert will not define who you are, keep family and good friends close, be brave, dream big, be adventurous, relax, enjoy the moment'. You may learn more from reading these contributions than from a lot of 40 minute classes, whether online or in school.
