The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) welcomes the certainty provided to students by today’s announcement in relation to the 2022 State Examinations. The TUI supports the modified Leaving Certificate examinations and assessments and confirmation that the Junior Certificate examinations will take place.
The speculation of recent weeks was both regrettable and avoidable, and it has been reported to us that it has negatively affected student engagement with important Leaving Certificate tasks and decisions.
The TUI has consistently made the point that in the absence of full Junior Certificate data for all students, there is simply no viable model for an alternative assessment mechanism that could guarantee fairness and equity for the class of 2022, irrespective of the postcode of their school. Those commentators proposing a hybrid model completely failed to offer a concrete proposal that would be fair and transparent for students.
The additional modifications to be made to the 2022 State Examinations need to be communicated in full so that students and teachers know exactly where they stand and can make the most of the remainder of the school year.
With the clarity provided today, school communities can maintain their focus on the important business of teaching and learning in the weeks and months ahead. Today’s announcement provides the basis for fair and equitable outcomes for all students, including those in Junior Cycle and 5th Years.
Is maith ann an chinnteacht do dhaltaí na hArdteistiméireachta – is ar leas na foghlama agus an teagaisc na leasuithe a fógraíodh inniu
Cuireann Aontas Múinteoirí Éireann fáilte roimh chinneadh an Aire Oideachais, Norma Foley, T.D., inniu maidir leis na scrúduithe stáit, 2022. Tabharfaidh an tAontas tacaíocht do na leasuithe a dhéanfar ar scrúduithe na hArdteistiméireachta, idir leasuithe ar na páipéir scrúduithe féin agus leasuithe ar chórais mharcála na bpáipéar. Tá Aontas Múinteoirí Éireann sásta le dearbhú an Aire go ndéanfar scrúduithe a reáchtáil don Teastas Sóisearach i mbliana chomh maith.
Níorbh aon chabhair í an éiginnteacht a tháinig aníos le roinnt seachtainí, rud a chuir isteach go mór ar mheanma na scoláirí agus a bhain go mór dá n-aird ar thascanna agus cinntí tábhachtacha a bhaineann leis an Ardteistiméireacht.
Bhí an tAontas den tuairim i gcónaí nach bhféadfaí córas méasúnaithe hibrideach a chur i gcrích i mbliana in éagmais na faisnéise ón Teastas Sóisearach a bhí mar bhunchloch ag an gcaighdeánú a rinneadh sa dá bhliain dheireanacha i gcás chóras na ngrád measta in 2020 agus córas na ngrád chreidiúnaithe anuraidh. D’ainneoin éilimh tráchtairí éagsúla, níor tháinig aon mholadh fiúntach chun cinn maidir le córas measúnaithe hibrideach a d’fhéadfaí a chur ar bun don Ardteistiméireacht i mbliana, a chinnteodh go mbeadh an iontaofacht agus an choibhéis chéanna idir torthaí ó scoil go scoil agus ó dhalta go dalta, fud fad na tíre.
Ní mór ag an bpointe seo na hathruithe agus na leasuithe a dhéanfar ar scrúduithe na hArdteistiméireachta a fhoilsiú gan mhoill ionas gur féidir leis an daltaí agus a gcuid múinteoirí díriú ar a bhfuil le déanamh acu agus cur chuige fónta a leagan amach don chuid eile den scoilbhliain.
Is ar leas lucht na hArdteistiméireachta agus na bpáirtithe leasmhara araon cinneadh an Aire inniu.
Beifear in ann anois díriú ar an bhfoghlaim agus ar an teagasc sna seachtainí agus sna míonna atá romhainn agus Cothrom na Féinne a chinntiú do dhaltaí na hArdteistiméireachta, trí bhíthin na leasuithe a d’fhógair an tAire Oideachais inniu. Is ar leas dhaltaí an Teastais Shóisearaigh agus daltaí an cúigiú bliain chomh maith na socruithe a dhearbhaigh an tAire inniu.