Following strong representations by the ASTI, the Music Practical Performance Tests will be returned to within school term for Leaving Certificate 2023. It was clear that the move to hold them last year during the Easter break simply didn’t work on either educational or logistic grounds and reversion to the practice that prevailed previously is a sound decision.
However, it is regrettable that the ASTI demand that the Oral Examinations also be returned to within school term have not been met and are set to held over the Easter Holiday period for at least one more year. This is neither a sound educational or logistical decision. Students will again be enormously and intensively stretched to perform across a range of subjects over a tight timeframe.
ASTI has been assured by the State Examinations Commission that holding the Oral examinations at Easter in 2023 does not indicate the timing of these tests in perpetuity. The SEC have stated that the holding of these examinations at Easter in 2023 is to allow for a comprehensive evaluation of the arrangements outside of the context of Covid.
Details of the arrangements for Oral Examinations and Music Practical Performance Tests can be found here.
