The Minister for Education and Skills has urged schools to await the conclusion of on-going discussions before taking any decisions regarding assessment arrangements for their Junior Cycle students.
Controversy has arisen in recent days in light of the decision of a very small number of schools to opt-out of the Junior Cycle examinations this year.
The ASTI has stated its clear position on the announcement on Good Friday by the Minister for Education and Skills regarding the arrangements for Junior Cycle Examinations in 2020.
The Junior Certificate will not take place. The Minister’s stated intention is that the papers will be distributed to schools in the Autumn and schools would be asked to schedule them internally. There will be no Junior Certificate issued. ASTI is clear that the Junior Certificate is cancelled and will not proceed this year. We have called on the Minister to award a State Certificate to all of this year’s candidates in recognition of their participation in and completion of the three years of Junior Cycle in June 2020.
In that context, it is unnecessary that the pressure of sitting examinations that enjoy no credible status should be imposed these students, either prior to the summer holidays or in the autumn. It should be sufficient that students will finish their courses within the constraints imposed by the current Public Health Emergency restrictions.
We believe that the well-being of these students is best served by the freedom of these students to enjoy the summer of 2020 without the pressure of examinations hanging over them. The ASTI believes teachers and students will have fulfilled their commitment to the Junior Certificate when the present school year ends on May 29th.
The situation with regard to the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement has not been clarified. It is not clear how the proposed school-based examinations would run, who would invigilate them or how they would be corrected.
The Department of Education Press Statement of 10th April states as follows:
Junior Cycle examinations in June replaced with school-based exams and assessments early in the new school year
- Junior Cycle final examinations due to take place in June will be replaced by school-based exams and assessments held early in the new school year.
- As part of the changes to the Junior Cycle, discussions will take place with teacher unions and school management to allow these examinations, linked Classroom-Based Assessments, Assessment Tasks and project work to be completed as school-based assessments early in the next school year.
The ASTI will not ask members to invigilate and correct the papers when they are circulated to schools in September.
The ASTI has entered discussions at a working group that has been set up by the Department of Education and Skills for contingency planning for State Examinations 2020. The group is a forum where the second-level education stakeholders can all contribute their views and concerns regarding the implementation of the Minister’s decision for the running of the Examinations including the Junior Certificate.
ASTI will be pursuing all issues of concern that have been raised by members in line with ASTI policy.
In a statement issued on 22nd April, and in light of the controversy that has arisen in recent days the Minister for Education has stated the following:
“In relation to Junior Cycle exams, the Minister said: “The best way to address this issue is to allow the group have further discussions, in a spirit of partnership in the best interests of this year’s Junior Cycle students. I would urge schools to await the conclusion of these discussions with the education partners before taking any decisions regarding assessment arrangements for their Junior Cycle students”
