ISSU Statement : ISSU Report calls for a Hybrid Model for the 2022 State Exams
Ahead of today’s Advisory Group meeting on State Examinations Planning, the ISSU has released its “Report on COVID-19 in Schools and the State Examinations''. This report hopes to inform positive action on this year's State Examinations.
Speaking on the launch, Emer Neville ISSU Uachtarán said: “It’s undeniable that the 2022 exam cohort have faced multiple years of disrupted education. This has included lost tuition time, adverse classroom environments as well as a burden on their mental health that cannot be measured and these things put together have undoubtedly impacted their education in ways we cannot fathom. It’s clear students are calling for a change of direction, the new way forward being a hybrid model. The Minister for Education cannot ignore these collective voices and must act soon to give students the clarity they deserve.”
The report is based on the survey conducted by the ISSU last week and submissions received from students in recent weeks. The survey had over 40,000 responses and was completed by 1 in 3 Senior Cycle students and a further 1 in 7 Junior Cycle students. It covered the topics of the Leaving Certificate, Junior Certificate, COVID-19 in schools, Online Tuition and School Absences.
Leaving Certificate
Students were asked to rank by preference a number of alternatives for the 2022 Leaving Certificate Examinations. This found that 68% of Senior Cycle students would prefer a hybrid model for this year's Leaving Certificate ranking it as their first preference. Second choice preferences show a clear division between the student body, with half in favour of a form of calculated grading but the other half in favour of the option of sitting in-person examinations. As a result, the ISSU has called for an alternative option to be implemented and recommends a hybrid model similar to that of the 2021 Leaving Certificate.
Junior Certificate
The ISSU notes that the Junior Cycle class of 2022 have never seen an uninterrupted academic year. Students have reached out to the ISSU remarking that they feel completely unprepared for their exams. The aforementioned survey shows that 59.19% of Junior Cycle students have ranked a hybrid model in their top two preferences.
Return to school
The ISSU has received numerous reports of significant student and teacher absences upon returning to school after the winter break. 61.88% of surveyed students have missed a minimum of between one and six classes on average per day in the weeks since returning. The ISSU has also received reports of temperatures in classrooms falling below eight degrees celsius. Half of students surveyed (50.32%) noted that windows are open in all classrooms in their school for ventilation purposes. A further 47.23% of students say they are open in some classrooms, but not all.
The ISSU’s report compiles detailed submissions and survey data and has made a multitude of recommendations as a result. The ISSU is hoping for clarity and an equitable solution for students following today's Advisory Group meeting.