A Clare teaching representative claims the Department of Education are “putting the cart before the horse” by pressing ahead with accelerated reforms for the Leaving Cert.
It comes as the 2025 ASTI Annual Convention gets underway today in Killarney.
Under changes announced by then minister Norma Foley, less emphasis will be placed on written exams with at least 40% of student’s grades awarded for additional assessment or project work.
The revised changes are due to come into effect at the start of new school year in September, for incoming fifth year students.
Clare ASTI rep, Geraldine O’Brien, says at present, most school’s science and computer labs are not up to the requirements to cope with demand and that teachers haven’t received adequate training on the new curriculum.
The St. Joseph’s Kilkee Community College teacher says widescale reform is urgently needed to deliver senior cycle education to the right standard.
Meanwhile, more students will get higher Junior Cert grades under changes announced today.
New plans revealed by Education Minister Helen McEntee, who will address the convention later today, will see the top four grades evenly distributed in bands of 15 percentage points.
A distinction will now start at 85 per cent, rather than 90 per cent, and a higher merit will start at 70 per cent, instead of 75.
Michael Gillespie, General Secretary of the Teachers Union of Ireland, is welcoming the move.
