The cost saving of having no exams

÷ Sir — While all eyes were on the will-they-won’t-they moves by the ASTI regarding the Leaving Cert, I found myself thinking it would be interesting to find out the huge amount the Department of Education is going to save by cancelling both State examinations this summer. There are many aspects to this:

Payment to supervisors of all practical work;

Invigilation payments for the actual annual exams — both the presence of invigilators and their travelling expenses;

Payment to assistant examiners which averages €2,500-€4000 at Junior Cert and €3,500-€6,000 at Leaving Cert. Higher averages go to advising examiners, senior advising examiners and chief advising examiners;

Department payment for registered postage in sending scripts to and from assistant and advising examiners and the exam centre at Cornamaddy;

Payment for rechecks, although small by comparison, is accountable.

Approximately 60,000 would have sat the Junior Cert and the same for Leaving Cert. Candidates at Junior Cert take, on average, nine to 13 subjects and at Leaving Cert six to eight. There are higher and ordinary levels in the majority of subjects and a minority at foundation level.

Take one core Junior Cert subject level which would include 80-100 assistant examiners, 10-12 advising examiners, one senior advising examiner and one chief advising examiner. Multiply that by the number of subjects and levels and you will get the picture. George Coe, Gowran, Co Kilkenny