Sir, – In your editorial “The Irish Times view on junior cycle reform: momentum needs to be maintained” (October 18th), the following line made for worrying reading: “A successful junior cycle can lay solid foundations for senior cycle reform and the promise of a more inclusive, innovative, and effective educational system.”
Surely, the innovative and effective education system (despite any flaws) that we currently have is what draws certain multinational corporations here in search of Irish-educated graduates? Or am I missing something?
Reform should never be for the sake of reform, rather it should be based on sound educational principles underpinned by adequate resources, as otherwise it is doomed to fail.
There has been a worrying downgrading inherent in much of junior cycle reform, with current grades bands too wide, as evident in the “merit” category, which ranges from 55 per cent to 75 per cent.
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In any reform of the Leaving Certificate, we must proceed with caution that we do not throw out the baby with the bathwater. – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN O’HARA,
Carrowmore,
Sligo.
