The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has said that if the priority of Government is to keep schools open during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Union will not countenance or accept any attempt not to hold the traditional, highly trusted, externally-marked State Examinations in 2021.
The Union notes recent comments by the Minster that the intention is that ‘the Leaving Certificate 2021 will be the traditional Leaving Certificate as we would know it.’ This must now be confirmed.
The Union says that with seven months to June 2021, there is ample time to ensure that the customary State examinations – which enjoy significant and unmatched public trust - can run smoothly and safely. In this context, the Union highlighted that schools were presented with a significantly more difficult task when they were given guidelines on re-opening barely a month before a million students were due to return to buildings that needed to be completely recalibrated to ensure compliance with public health guidelines.
The Union noted that the Department breached and betrayed the trust of teachers by reneging on an assurance for the 2020 calculated grades system that the student ranking would only be available in response to a data access request.
Speaking today, TUI General Secretary Michael Gillespie said:
‘Students and teachers need certainty, and the Minister must provide this by confirming that the customary State examinations will take place in June 2021.’
Calculated grades 2020 – breach of trust
‘We engaged in the calculated grades process on a good faith, once-off basis to allow the class of 2020 to progress to the next stage of their lives. In this regard, we sought and received an assurance that each student’s rank order within a class would only be available to a student in response to a data access request.
Ranking students in such a manner runs completely counter to the values of inclusive teaching and was only agreed upon on the understanding that it was to improve the accuracy of the data collected and would not be released in the manner that it ultimately was. Regrettably, in a hugely damaging move that completely eroded the trust of our members, this agreement was reneged upon. Release of student rankings in such a manner had the potential to be extremely damaging for vulnerable students, reinforcing stigmatisation, embedding disadvantage and serving absolutely no useful practical or moral purpose.
Our experience of calculated grades leaves us in no doubt that the customary State examinations are more reliable and enjoy greater trust among the public at large and, critically, among students and teachers.’
Current uncertainty having detrimental effect on teaching and learning
‘In the absence of Ministerial assurance that the customary state certified examinations will be held next summer, some schools are hedging their bets by scheduling an expanded range of formal assessments with the purpose of using the results as an evidential base for the award of calculated grades. This is leading to a distortion of teaching and learning patterns and is placing an insupportable burden of additional work and unrelenting pressure on students and teachers.’
State exams seven months away – schools had barely a month to arrange re-opening
‘The Minister must alleviate the burden on students and teachers and state clearly that the State certified examinations will be held in the long-established manner. While the pandemic and its effects may well pose challenges in this regard, it is worth noting that June 2021 is seven months away. This is ample time to anticipate and prepare for every eventuality and challenge that might arise. For example, it is highly likely that additional space will be required to ensure that adequate physical distancing can be maintained.
By contrast, school principals and teachers were issued with guidance on the return to school barely four weeks before a million students were due to return to chronically under-resourced school environments that were in no way calibrated for the required safeguards.
Even in the current climate, ensuring that the State examinations are held safely is a very achievable aim. However, it is vital that the Minister commits to this publicly as a matter of urgency.’