Secondary teachers have endorsed plans by Minister for Education Mary Hanafin to reform the Leaving Cert provided the best elements of the exam are retained.
But Fine Gael and Labour were both critical of the Minister's cautious approach to the more radical reform plans tabled by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA).
Fine Gael said the Minister had been offered a "Rolls-Royce" option by her advisory group but had opted for a "Morris Minor".
ASTI general secretary John White said his union was open to discussing reform so long as it retained the transparent, objective and professional assessment component of the exam.
He welcomed plans by Ms Hanafin where students will take an earlier exam in each subject as well as the June exams.
"Reform which diminishes the one-off element of the examination would be welcome. However, it is absolutely essential that any such reform preserves the confidence that students, parents, the public and employers have in the Leaving Certificate by ensuring that assessment is carried externally." He added that Leaving Cert reform must be properly resourced and funded. He also welcomed the Minister's support for transition year.
Fine Gael's Olwyn Enright said the proposed changes would do little for the huge number of students whose talents were not recognised within the current examination framework.
"We must not forget that, although the Leaving Certificate is an examination that is well-regarded by many both here and abroad, we still have the situation where 18 per cent of second-level students do not even attempt it. The needs of these young people are not being met under the current system.
"It is very regrettable that the Minister appears to be accepting only the narrowest amount of change to the Leaving Certificate exam. Some time ago, Minister Hanafin described the NCCA proposals on Leaving Certificate reform as the 'Rolls-Royce' option. The Minister should clarify if she wishes to have a cheap exam in place, or an excellent one."
Jan O'Sullivan of Labour said while the reforms would reduce student stress, they had nothing to offer the estimated 40 per cent of students who did not do themselves justice in exams or those who dropped out altogether.
The NCCA proposals, she said, were very careful to preserve what was good about the Leaving Certificate while seeking to widen subjects offered and skills that were rewarded.
We could not, she said, continue to undervalue bright young people whose strengths were not in memorising large chunks of material, to be forgotten as soon as the exam was over.
