Sir, - Andy Pollak (The Irish Times, August 19th) raises two important issues: school based assessment and teacher accountability.
On the first point, he is correct when he quotes the Minister's belief that there aren't enough external examiners to continue with the current system. However, instead of charging off to alter the fundamental principles of objectivity and anonymity which are the virtues of the current system, I think any Minister, reforming or otherwise, or indeed any Department official, might first of all ask: why can we not get examiners? Could it possibly be the level of remuneration?
The answer, for those too timid or too blinkered, is yes. What other graduate professionals would be expected to undertake work, the reward for which is frequently as little as the minimum basic hourly wage proposed by the current coalition Government? The solution to the current difficulty in obtaining examiners is a simple one of pay. And in the current debate surrounding TDs' pay the Minister perfectly understands that public service must be rewarded on a level that will guarantee standards and quality.
On the second point, that of accountability, how can anyone, the quoted nameless senior official or otherwise, believe that teachers are not accountable? Such an opinion, especially after the publication of the Leaving Certificate results, beggars belief. The two public examinations which most second-level students undergo are the annual acid test of accountability. Teachers are publicly accountable to their students, parents, colleagues and their employers in a way that few others are, and are certainly more accountable than any "nameless senior official". - Yours, etc.,P. J. Sheehy, (ASTI Regional Representative, Dun Laoghaire, Stillorgan, Bray, Wicklow), Coolgreany, Co Wexford.