Leaving Cert: Irish And English Paper One To Be 'Remodelled' With Exams To Take Place In Fifth Year

Monday, 29 August 2022 15:46

By Caoimhe Harney

Pupils entering 5th year in September 2023 will sit exams at the end of that school year.

The Education Minister says English and Irish Paper 1 exams will be 'remodelled' as students look set to sit those exams at the end of 5th year.

It comes amid warnings that male students could be at a significant disadvantage if the plans are introduced due to their maturity levels.

It was announced last March pupils entering 5th year in September 2023 would sit the exams at the end of that school year.

Minister Norma Foley says those exam papers will be modified to reflect the fact that students will be sitting at the end of one year of the cycle instead of two.

“The paper will obviously reflect the fact that the paper is taking at the end of one year rather than at the end two year.

“There will be re-modelling and reshaping of paper one of English and Irish, so it’s to insure that any of the issues raised will be factored in and accounted for," said Minister Foley.

Speaking in relation to the recent school bus places controversy, the Education Minister said not all who applied for free school transport were eligible to receive it.

Over 130 thousand applications were made for children to get school buses, but around 15 thousand didn't receive an offer, including many students in Kildare.

There was a spike in applications after the Department of Education announced they would waive school transport fees for this year.

Education Minister Norma Foley says not all of the applicants would have qualified: