Letters

Fifth-year Leaving exams a bad idea

Listen to the advice

Fri Sept 02 2022 - 00:11

Sir, – INOTE (Irish National Organisation of Teachers of English) supports Conradh na Gaeilge in its call for Minister of Education Norma Foley to reverse her decision to hold two Leaving Cert exams at the end of fifth year from 2024, one in Irish and one in English (News, August 29th). INOTE is disappointed that Ms Foley didn’t listen to the State Examinations Committee when it told her that there were “serious concerns” raised about moving these papers to the end of fifth year on both educational grounds (eg negatively impacting on the integration of the subject and how it is taught, gender disparities around exam readiness) and logistical grounds (such a change would require a fundamental re-examination of the specification), and instead listened to the chief inspector at the Department of Education, when he saw the move as an “early win”. INOTE is confused by a Minister of Education choosing a “win” over the education of future generations. – Yours, etc,

CONOR MURPHY,

Chairman,

INOTE,

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Timoleague,

Co Cork.