HOW STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ARE GETTING ON IN THE CRISIS
JESSICA FARRY TALKS TO LEAVING CERTIFICATE STUDENTS WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT RECENT SCHOOL CLOSURES.
FOR most young people, the idea of school being closed for the forseeable is almost dream like. But for those preparing to sit exams, particularly the Leaving Certificate, the ongoing uncertainty is a concern.
It looks as though schools across the country will be closed until after Easter at the earliest. Last week, there was further disruption to the school calender when the Minister for Education, Joe McHugh, announced that all Leaving Certificate oral and practical exams have been cancelled.
Students will be awarded 100% for those exams which will not go ahead.
Leaving cert students across the county are concerned about what this may all mean for their exams in June.
Fraser Gaine, a leaving cert student in Summerhill College told The Sligo Champion of his shock when he learned that schools would be closed for some time.
He said: “The shutdown of schools was a bit of a shock for me. Although it was widely speculated about, I didn’t really think it would come to this. I think I’m coping quite well, but I find it quite hard to constantly keep my discipline and focus on schoolwork, due to the absence of normal, scheduled classes. I think that without the set routine of a normal school day, a lot of young people I know are finding it hard to self-discipline and keep to their studies.”
Ciara Waldron, a leaving cert student in the Ursuline College, says she was also surprised to hear that schools were closing.
“I don’t think that I am the only one that was shocked when I heard the news that all schools in the country would be closed until further notice, however many people did have a feeling it would happen.”
Although Fraser feels the cancellation of the orals is frustrating due to the amount of work gone into preparing for the exams, he says his hard work will not be wasted.
“The cancellation of the oral exams is quite frustrating on one hand, but at the same time, it is also a bit of a relief. Although I spent a lot of time working on my oral preparation, the exam being cancelled doesn’t mean that the work I’ve done is wasted, as the topics I have prepared vocabulary and phrases on are likely to come up in the written exam, or the aural exam. I think it probably gives an advantage to students who perhaps struggle a bit more on the oral topics, and takes away an advantage had by those who excel in those aspects of the exam. The same can be said for the music practicals. However, it is a relief knowing that I have already secured a pass in two of my subjects.”
He is concerned about what the continued school closures will mean for the upcoming leaving cert exams, although the government remain committed to ensuring the exams go ahead in June.
“I am a little worried, yes. The uncertainty that goes with the closure of the school is quite unsettling, as our entire normal school routine has been changed. In my opinion, the longer the schools are closed, the more uncertain students will be regarding their preparation and level of understanding of the respective courses because there is a massive decline in contact time with teachers. I would really like to return to school as soon as I can, partially in the hopes that the exams won’t be postponed until Autumn.”
Ciara feels that she is coping well with the school shutdown, as hard as it is.
“I think I am dealing with the current situation pretty well as I am sticking with my school timetable and keeping on top of all of the work my teachers send me by email. The hardest thing is probably the physical social distance as I cannot talk to my friends face-to-face but there are means around that such as social media and Facetime that allow me to maintain connections with my friends.”
Teachers have had to be somewhat imaginative in order to keep teaching their students with schools closed. Most have taken to uploading lessons online. This is of particular importance to students in exam years.
“All of my teachers have made online resources available to us, such as notes, videos and online classes. This is a massive help, and it allows us to maintain as close to a regular school routine as possible. Teachers are able to set assignments and collect them online, and we can get feedback and ask questions where necessary, so I find it very helpful,” Fraser said.
Like Ciara, Fraser tries to keep to his school timetable to ensure his days off have some sort of structure.
“My daily routine hasn’t changed very much, as I’ve tried to spend my time as i usually would during the school year. I follow my usual school routine during the week, taking usual breaks and following my class timetable. This gives my study a good structure and makes it easy to follow. Of course with everything being cancelled, like as extra-curricular activities, I have more spare time than normal, so I tend to spend more time in the gym or on the phone to my friends because I can’t see them in person.”
Teenagers in particular have been criticised for not keeping to social distancing recommendations, and Fraser acknowledges that it is difficult for young people to do so when they have nothing else to do.
“Music is a very big part of my life, and usually takes up a lot of my time going to lessons and rehearsals and stuff like that, and it’s quite odd not having things to go to. Especially now that my music practical exam has been cancelled, I will have less opportunity to practice and play with my friends even after the isolation period is over.
“I think not seeing my friends is the hardest part about this. I’ve only now realised just how many people that I see and interact with in my day-to-day life, now that I’m not in school and I can’t go out and meet my friends, and I think a lot of young people are finding it hard to stay in isolation and distance themselves from their friends.”