EXAM RESULTS DELAY LEAVES US SHOCKED...
Universities warn first years will face lodgings stress
A SHOCK decision to delay the issuing of Leaving Cert results despite pleas from universities has sparked anger.
The State Examinations Commission yesterday announced this year’s results would not arrive until September – instead of a pre-covid mid-august date.
Education Minister Norma Foley has backed the SEC’S decision, blaming a “lack of [exam] correctors”.
Critics of the move, including the Social Democrats’ education spokesperson Gary Gannon, have branded it “completely unacceptable”.
Trinity College Dublin, NUI Galway, University College Cork and
University of Limerick, among others, had been considering start dates of around September 5.
However, the SEC confirmed it will not publish results until September 2 due to a number of “challenging” factors.
Universities are not now expected to issue decisions on applications until as late as
September 6.
The Irish Universities’ Association, which represents eight colleges, said: “First-year students will be at a clear disadvantage on finding accommodation due to the delay.
“It is imperative the Minister and Government plan now for earlier Leaving Cert exams and results, starting in 2023.”
The IUA and the Technological Higher Education Association both warned last month against any delay, claiming it would be “hugely disruptive” to the start of college and would shorten the time to find lodgings amid an ongoing shortage crisis.
A spokesperson for the SEC said yesterday it “has an absolute responsibility to examination candidates to ensure that their work is marked to the highest standards of quality and integrity”.
Minister Foley stated: “There is a challenge around the availability this year of correctors, who
have been impacted by Covid.” She added that if the SEC could have issued a date sooner “by magic” then it would have.
But Mr Gannon told the Irish Mirror: “Delaying the Leaving Cert results until September 2 will cause huge levels of additional stress and worry.”
He claimed it will make it “extremely difficult” for students to find accommodation and “also has consequences for two important accessibility schemes, Higher Education Access Route and Disability Access Route to Education”.
Mr Gannon added: “The SEC has had a long time to prepare for this year’s results. It is unacceptable that it failed to do so and that students are paying the price of that failure.”
Some 131,000 candidates took the Leaving Cert this year, an increase of 7,000 compared to the last time a full set of examinations was run in 2019.
The SEC has had a long time to prepare for results
GARY GANNON YESTERDAY