The run-in to the Leaving and Junior Certificate exams - which begin today - could hardly have been more traumatic for students and parents. The average secondary student lost over a dozen days because of the ASTI dispute. Oral and practical exams had to be abruptly rescheduled. For several months, it was unclear whether the exams would take place or, if they did, how they would be corrected. Despite this difficult backdrop, the good news is that the Leaving Cert 2001 is now back on track and the damage in pupil/teacher relations has not been as bad as was feared. The vast majority of 6th Years who graduated last week appreciate the dedicated work of their teachers. The teachers themselves deserve great credit here; the vast majority have worked outside regular hours - especially in the past month - to ensure that students did not lose out because of the industrial action. As an advisory body to the Minister for Education, Dr Woods, acknowledged recently, the Leaving Cert is a "towering presence" in the Irish educational landscape. The exam has its merits. It has huge credibility with the public. It provides a wide range of subjects and is a good preparation for a student en route to third level. It also aims to provide a level playing-field for every candidate, although the increased use of grind schools by more prosperous students, is undermining this. There is, nonetheless, public confidence that every student is assessed in precisely the same way. There are no special favours in the Leaving Cert - and that in itself is an important virtue.
But like other venerable institutions in Irish society, it is beginning to show its age. The exam provides a good snapshot of how a student is faring academically but it scarcely provides the whole picture. In its recent report, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) - which advises the Minister - proposed a fundamental reappraisal of the exam. The NCCA wants to see more project work, more reward for personal initiative and decision-making and a new emphasis on practical work, especially in science subjects. The council also appears to favour some kind of change in the assessment procedure. Some members are known to favour a move towards continuous assessment.
The business community has also been pressing for change through its representative group, IBEC. They want to see the Leaving Cert reflect the dramatic change in the Irish economy by putting an increasing emphasis on information technology and workplace skills. It would be good to hear what Minister Woods has to say about these issues. Does he favour radical change? Should the assessment procedures be reformed? Does the exam cause too much stress to students? Now the ASTI dispute has slipped down the agenda, it would be good to see Dr Woods address these issues.