Update on State Examinations Oral Examinations     

Urgent Instruction to Oral and Practical Examiners
Letter from SEC

The following statement agreed by the SEC, unions and managerial authorities issued Wednesday March 25th.

Leaving Certificate Gaeilge and Modern language Oral Tests 2009.

Leaving and Junior Certificate Music and Junior Certificate Practical Tests 2009

The State Examinations Commission is continuing with the arrangements for these tests, which commenced on Monday 23 March and will conclude on Friday 3 April,2009.

Contingency arrangements in conjunction with the education partners, i.e. school managers, principals, parents and teacher unions, had been put in place by the SEC in response to the teacher unions’ decision to undertake industrial action on Monday 30 March in support of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Ten Point Plan for National Recovery.

Confirmation has now been received that the proposed industrial actionby the teacher unionswill not take place on that date.

Consequently, examining of the abovementioned oral and practical tests may now take place on Monday 30 March.

It is appreciated that the cancellation of the industrial action by the teacher unions has been confirmed at a late stage and close to the commencement of the second week of examining of these tests and that, in most instances, arrangements for the conduct of the tests have been put in place.

Examiners have been informed that Monday 30th is now available for examining and have been asked to engage with school authorities, confirming or revising the proposed arrangements in the context of the shared determination of the education partners to minimise the impact of this situation on examination candidates.

It is the intention of the Commission and of the education partners that, in the best interests of the candidates, these tests should be conducted as smoothly as possible in the circumstances.