‘WE ARE IMMENSELY PROUD OF THE CLASS OF 2020’
St Michael’s College Principal John Mulvihill is confident the new system will deliver fair results for Leaving Certificate students
ST Michael’s College has been preparing students with tremendous success for state examinations since it opened its doors 151 years ago.
Because of COVID-19, this will not happen this year. At one level there is disappointment because students, parents, teachers by and large look forward to the challenge of state exams and their results.
I know, thanks to my parents, the value of a good education and how it can and does influence students’ futures.
There is a great sense of joy, happiness, achievement, and relief when the results are received each year, not just for the student but also for the parents, their extended family, friends, and general community.
It is one main reason why successive generations of parents send their boys to St Michael’s College to do well in the state exams, so that they can progress to third level or to the world of work.
At another level the decision taken to replace the exams with calculated grades is the correct one because it is for the good of the public health of all in our communities.
This new system brings to an end for students the uncertainty of whether the exams will take place, or under what format. Students now know that their work, efforts and academic ability will be rewarded and acknowledged through this new system of calculated grades overseen by the Department of Education and Skills.
So will the new model work? There is no prefect system, but I have no hesitation in saying ‘yes’; because it is based on what is best for all students at this time.
It is based on fairness and equity. It will make a valuable contribution to the wellbeing of our students and, by extension, to parents, and to teachers, because it eliminates the waiting and the uncertainty about July date of exams. All now gone, thank God!
The new model uses a schoolbased estimation of its students’ ability, which the Department will consider when they sit down to grade each student.
Having done so, the Department will issue certificates to all students with grades in August (that’s the plan) and CAO places will be offered on that basis to students who have applied.
The new model allows for students to appeal if they are not satisfied with their grades, or they can take up the option of resitting the exam at a later date if they so wish.
Since this new model was agreed and published there has been much comment about schools’ abilities to implement this in a manner that is fair and equitable to all students. My response is that ‘yes we can’.
Teachers are professionals who are being asked to provide an estimation of the Leaving Cert students’ academic ability that they are teaching presently.
I have every confidence in our staff because they are professionals; they want the tremendous efforts and abilities of students to be acknowledged, but above all, I trust my teachers and teachers in all schools to make unbiased, professional estimations.
The rest is then up to Department of Education, in whom I also have every confidence to deliver fair and equitable results that reflect the academic ability of all students.
I look forward to going to the post office on August 17 to collect and sign for the registered parcel that will contain the results for the class of 2020.
As with every year, it will be a great privilege for me as principal to open that parcel, and this year will be no different, and I know I won’t be disappointed!
Because, class of 2020, you have all measured up to the standards that have been set for you.
We are all immensely proud of you.