I spoke on Friday, May 7th in the Seanad on the Education Bill 2021 and about the exam students of 2020/21. This has been a very difficult time for the students, teachers and parents and the whole school community who have gone beyond and above the call of duty to ensure exams went ahead last year and this year. Every Leaving Cert student this year will have an opportunity to showcase their best talents going forward into their future be it college, an apprentice or onto the workplace. This is a really important Bill. It allows the students the opportunity to sit the exams and have the accredited grades option so that they can take the best result for themselves. Eighty percent of our young people are taking the option to sit the exam this year as well as the opting for the accredited grades- so they will have two chances to try to get it right and can take the best result for them. I spoke on the school rank order and a clear process has been put in place to facilitate students studying outside of the schools is important. I wished all of our students the best of luck in this difficult time. This is about how we best prepare our students for life and how we look at the future of education on how we can best equip our students going forward.
