Peadar Tóibín TD: Handling of the Leaving Cert a Master Class in Indecision
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD has stated that serious questions remain in the how the Leaving Cert will be run this year. Speaking in the Dáil he stated. Peadar Tóibín stated;
“The handling of this crisis when it comes to education has been a Master Class in indecision. It has taken two months of making and reversing decisions to get here. And yet we are still faced to dozens of unanswered questions. Indecision, uncertainty and speculation has been the sources of anxiety and stress for students during the last two months”.
“There are major problems still outstanding in the Minister’s plan. It’s significant that the actual Leaving Cert won’t be held until November now. This means that the results will not be available until the New Year. Consequently, those who choose that route will miss College and University completely this year. This is a significant penalty for those who feel that they have not been treated fairly”.
“Those who sit the exam will have to take a year out of education, try get a job in the most economically uncertain time for generations, survive possibly without an paid income for that year and see all of their friends and class mates move on with their lives. Many students will weigh up the cost and wont risk it”.
“Originally the Minister had planned for the Leaving Cert to be scheduled for late July and early August. We need to know when a definitive timeline will be published with regards the Leaving Cert? When will results be announced, appeals take place, CAO offers made and what will be the effect upon the beginning of the university year”.
Given the numbers involved and the number of classrooms in schools Will the Minister commit to scheduling the exams to allow students who seek to sit the Leaving Cert to do so in advance of College Courses being offered.
