Cancelled exams will reduce student stress says Principal

The Principal of the Presentation School in Wexford has welcomed the State Examinations Commission (SEC) decision to cancel the oral and practical tests of this year’s Leaving and Junior Certs and award full marks to all students due to take them.

Following the announcement, William Ryan said, ‘The decision by the Minister was done to be seen that the awarding of full marks for the oral and practical performance tests was considered to be the most fair to candidates as it guarantees that no candidate can be awarded a mark lower than they would have achieved in the test.

‘No other approach to generating a result for these components would have given this guarantee. These decisions have at all times been guided by consideration of the best interests of students. My advice to students is that they should continue to prepare for the remaining elements of their examinations as scheduled.’

Denise Lennon Hennessy, Principal of Selskar College, said this decision would help alleviate at least some of the stress those due to sit their exams this year were feeling.

‘It reduces the stress levels for the student, it’s fantastic for them. I welcome that the SEC have made a decision and let it be known, they’re working very hard 24 hours a day trying to come up with plans and ways to reduce the stress for students.’

The oral and practical tests had been due to take place from Monday, March 23 and last until Friday, April 3 but, given the current circumstances, the SEC have chosen to cancel them with immediate effect.

‘The intention is to alleviate student concerns about the demands they may be facing into in the coming weeks,’ read a statement from the SEC. ‘The oral and practical performance tests will not be rearranged and full marks will be awarded to candidates for these components.

‘The tests comprise the Leaving Certificate oral tests in Irish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Japanese; practical performance tests in Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle Music; and a practical performance test in Junior Cycle Home

Economics.

The SEC added that schools would be ‘allowed flexibility’ in relation to the completion of other project work and coursework across a number of subjects currently scheduled to be completed in the period between March 20 and to April 24.

‘Students will now be allowed to complete this work up to May 15,’ the statement read.

With regards to future tests and exams the SEC has said it will ‘continue to monitor the evolving situation very closely’.

‘The SEC and the Department of Education and Skills are continuing to monitor very closely the evolving situation regarding upcoming examination activities,’ the statement continued.

‘Candidates should continue to prepare for the practical examinations scheduled for the end of April and early May and the final examinations scheduled for May and June. The SEC will continue to engage collaboratively with the education stakeholders and the Department of Education and Skills in the weeks ahead.’