Leaving Cert students across the State will tomorrow get their results after a year disrupted by the industrial action taken by many of the State’s secondary teachers.
There is speculation teachers may have marked exams sympathetically in order to prevent a backlash in the case of a significant fall in marks. But the union at the centre of the dispute, ASTI, say this would not have happened and that students would be as well prepared as any other year.
"I think there won’t be any significant difference in the results," a spokeswoman said.
The view was echoed by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), who said: "the class of 2001 will be as good as any other year".
But while the number of options and places available to students has increased the USI has warned the accommodation crisis threatens to cause a fall in the take-up of post-Leaving Cert and third-level courses.
"Students will be refusing courses because they cannot get accommodation," said Mr Colm Jordan, Welfare Officer with the USI.
While saying the crisis was particularly acute in the State’s main urban centres, Mr Jordan described the problem as "endemic nationwide".
A Department of Education helpline will be in operation for three days from tomorrow and for a further three days when the offers of third-level places are made. The number is 1800 265165.
Results will be available online for the first time at www.examinations.ie. A phone line has also been set up where the PIN and exam number should be quoted. The numbers are 1530 719 290 with calls costing 25p per minute, while callers from outside the State should dial 00 353 1 7096646.
Students will need to have their exam number and a PIN to use either service, which begins operating from midday.
Of course, students preferring the more traditional option will still be able to obtain their results from what they hope will be their former school.