A chara, – I would like to provide some clarification for your readers in light of the one-sided argument presented under the heading "Can my school provide oral exams for Junior Cert language students?" (Education, April 12th).
It is important to point out that the optional oral examinations at Junior Cycle are currently carried out in schools on an ad hoc basis. These examinations are not standardised and are not marked by the highly respected State Examinations Commission. Any school involved in these oral examinations makes its own individual arrangements – so much for standards, equity and fairness.
Brian Mooney is inaccurate when he states that teachers leave their own classes for two weeks to conduct the externally assessed Leaving Cert orals. No language teacher examines for more than one week. These examiners, who provide a highly respected, standardised, equitable and professional service on behalf of the State Examinations Commission, do not “abandon” their own students. The use of such a word when referring to dedicated classroom experts is disingenuous.
The ridiculous suggestion that language teachers would ever have to “abandon their students for an entire month to externally assess Junior Cert Orals” is based on the same misunderstanding as was outlined by Brian Mooney regarding the Leaving Cert orals. I would expect a better argument rather than one based on the gratuitous use of the words “morally” and “ethically” to try to undermine the stance taken by ASTI members in the best interest of their students and standards in education. Stating that students could be disadvantaged by not undergoing a privately arranged oral examination at Junior Cycle is to undermine the oral work done by language teachers on a daily basis in their classrooms.
ASTI members attach such importance to the oral language skills of our students that we now want them recognised and rewarded through State-certified oral examinations, administered by the State Examinations Commission, as part of junior cycle reform. Our students deserve no less. – Is mise,
MÁIRE G NÍ CHIARBA,
President,
ASTI,
Thomas McDonagh House,
Winetavern Street,
Dublin 8.