Blog: International Continuous Assessment Perspective
Many of the critics of the proposed Junior Certificate reform have stated that its implementation would be somewhat a replicate of the “failing systems” abroad.How about a challenge to this argument, let’s look at this differently. Over the past nine months, I have met hundreds of students from across Europe who loves the idea of continuous assessment. The conversations that have erupted following my statement that some stakeholders in Ireland’s education system don’t support the entirety of these reforms have been somewhat entertaining.Let’s get one thing clear. The TUI and ASTI (the teaching unions who are striking tomorrow) are not against the entire idea of continuous assessment – they are against the internal assessment element and are worried that the JCSA could be a diluted version of our current Junior Certificate programme. Perhaps they think this may damage Ireland’s second-level education system or that the credibility of the Junior Certificate award could be affected. This blog is focused on international situations and is in no way to be directed at the striking teacher unions. This is an opportunity for those watching this debate to see just how continuous assessment works in countries outside of Ireland.Let’s look at England for example. The majority of education stakeholders are in support of continuous assessment. I spoke to a previous student officer of Student Voice, the English equivalent to ISSU, so to understand their views and so to get a clearer perspective on this. I was told that;“The ongoing qualification reforms in England and Wales were started by Secretary of State Michael Gove. This took place between 2010 -2014. In response to so-called 'grade inflation', the Department for Education decided to 'toughen-up' GCSE and A-Level exams resulting in abolishing coursework (continuous assessment) and reintroducing 100% terminal assessment. The new courses are in the process of being introduced, with teaching due to start in September 2015, for assessment in Summer 2017. Gove's reforms were opposed by the majority of the educational community, including teaching unions and academics, but that didn't change his mind. Gove isn't one known to listen. One of the main criticisms advanced was that terminal exams are a poor assessment of learning outcomes, benefiting only a specific kind of learner who can memorise and regurgitate facts, rather than testing true learning. Teachers complained it would cause teaching to the test, curtailing their academic freedom in the classroom and putting extra pressure on them to achieve exam results at the expense of pursuing quality learning and students' development. Some also said that complete focus on terminal assessment demeans education, making qualifications (and exam grades) a commodity to be secured at the end of education, with the learning gained along the way being only an incidental benefit, if achieved at all”.But what about further afield? Students don’t like the idea of standardised tests and terminal assessment without any form of continuous assessment. Last June I travelled to Rome on behalf of ISSU for the event “Education In Crisis” which was built around the fact that education has been hit hard and was ultimately in a dire state following the austerity budgets that Europe had to inflict on its people. Many of the arguments there said that they feared terminal assessment making a comeback so to drive down costs and others couldn’t stop expressing their sheer hatred for the international exam – PISA.The situation is clear further afield – students like continuous assessment as they feel engaged and motivated. It provides them with the education they need and deserve, in an interesting and productive way.We have been engaged in this reform for many years. We have had the conversations internationally and we have taken all points on board for these reforms and we can say that the studies that we’ve been involved with point to a solid conclusion – internationally continuous assessment works so why can’t it work within our Junior Certificate curriculum?
Blog: ISSU President
Hi everyone!My name is Craig McHugh and I am the President of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU), the national umbrella body organisation for student councils in the republic of Ireland. I am writing this blog today in the hope of reaching out to students and explaining more about what we do here in ISSU. I have set myself a pledge and a lot of goals within the last four months of my term as ISSU President. Education in this country is changing; and it’s important that we the students of 2015 know what’s going on and have an input into the conversations and discussions that are going on around it.Over the next year ISSU wants to expand its membership base and become a much more democratic and representative organisation and doing so is both a challenge and an easy accomplishment. Membership is free and ISSU is an entirely not for profit apolitical organisation. ISSU is not only about education reform; in a series of blog posts myself and my fellow ISSU Student Officers are going to explain to you just what this organisation does for its members, how we work, and how much more we want to do for second-level students.So you’re the President?Yes, as voted at the AGM or General Assembly of 2014, students from across the country representing schools nationwide came together and voted for me to lead the national student executive of ISSU, however on April 1st; your student council is invited to take part in electing a new leadership!How do we work with decision makers?We have regular meetings with Government Departments and we are recognised as the official second-level student voice channel in the republic of Ireland, so once your views reach our base – you’re being represented on a national level! For example; we are the student voice on the JCSA Reforms, meaning we’ve met with Oireachtas Joint Committees and engaged in national radio debates with different stakeholder leaders such as teachers unions etc.Is Student Voice Important to us?100%! All of our student executive officers are passionate about student voice and joined ISSU because they want to have our students voices heard loud and clear on issues that matter to them. Student Voice is what ISSU is all about; and the more students we have united – the stronger we are.What about us?This is exactly what we want 2015 to be about. We want to engage more with our grass root members and bring our ideas to you, just as much as you bring your ideas to us. Not only can you run for an ISSU National Executive position, but later this year we plan to re-launch our regional councils and make all of our campaigns grass root friendly. So the best way to become active is to become a member, sign up to our newsletter and keep an eye out on our social media pages for ways to improve student voice in your school. Have the voices of students you represent represented on a national level!So, enough talking – what’s the plan?Our goals for this year focus on the following topics;
- Education Reform
- LGBT Mental Health
- Gathering Student Voice on Gaeilge
- Assisting with improving Student Voice in Student Councils
- Voting at 16!
We’ve put together some solid ideas for you so we’d highly encourage you to read our blog posts and tell us what you think of them. We will be focusing on the Junior Certificate Reform (JCSA) over the coming days so hopefully our words will give you an insight into our stance and views in relation to this!ISSU is your channel to having your concerns heard on all aspects of your experience within secondary school so contact studentvoice@issu.ie with any thoughts / comments or ideas!So there you go; the first National Student Executive blog post of 2015! I do hope you are settling back into the swing of your studies and for those sitting exams in the coming weeks, I wish you the very best of luck!Keep an eye on the ISSU website and our social media pages for news, updates and all things ISSU!Is mise le meas,Craig McHughISSU President
Students Locked Out
PRESS STATEMENT
The National Student Executive of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) regretfully confirms that second-level schools will close tomorrow (December 2nd) due to industrial action by the ASTI and TUI.The ISSU is very supportive of the proposed reforms to the Junior Cycle, and believes that this is in the best interest of the students.Speaking this evening, Craig Mc Hugh (President) said:“Teachers are using students as pawns in this industrial dispute, whilst students and their parents are ultimately powerless to the system. The new JCSA is good for students, and we want Teachers to re-enter talks with the Minister to ensure this does not escalate any further.Taking students away from their timetabled classes is creating a barrier for students as they prepare for their Junior and Leaving Certificate exams this upcoming summer. Furthermore, disruption on this scale impacts on all students as they prepare for Christmas exams. This strike is not conducive to progressive reform and meaningful discussions with the Department of Education and Skills.” ***ENDS***Notes to editor:The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union has engaged with Junior Cycle reform discussions and consultations since 2011, and our stance on supporting this reform has been mandated by three annual assemblies, our internal advisory panels and nationwide student focus groups.
ISSU President to Students on JCSA.
I’m a procrastinator. But thankfully that’s what I am – I postpone things but I guess they get done in the end and people don’t notice too much thankfully; I’d thought about blogging for ISSU to keep the members in touch but look it; 6 months in and I’m only starting; well better late then never!There’s a lot fuss right now about this new junior cycle! A lot of negative and unnecessary fuss that is; and a significant amount of necessary concerns! I’m listening to these concerns, as is all of the ISSU Executive, but as the leader of this union representing second-level students on issues concerning them and as an activist with a responsibility to look out for student’s best interests; I feel it’s my job to do my job and fight for what’s best for us and for the future of secondary education in Ireland; that’s why we’re supporting JCSA.Teachers have concerns, and they’re right to on a number of grounds; I see their points but we as students have points too!JCSA originated from dissatisfaction with the old Junior Cert! Rote Learning, lack of “real life skills” after the course, and quite an unfair system overall! So students, parents and even teachers made sure this was heard; they made sure the Government and the NCCA in particular realised Junior Cert wasn’t working!Young People made all sorts of great reccomendations such as reforming the Junior Cycle to first and 2nd year and moving TY to 3rd year, and investing in it more to make it more affordable for families, and then extend the big bold stresses of the Leaving Cert to 3 years so as to reduce the horrible cramming that associates itself with final assessment!So, the government somewhat listened and somewhat didn’t , but they compromised and came up with the new Junior Cycle System which instead of giving you a giant list of stuff to know, it gives you a list of 24 skills you should possess and utilize. Click here to see these 24 Statements of Learning and Key Aspects of Junior Cycle.So, you get it; Opinions heard and Reform comes along!But, then we’ve got this nasty “continuous self assessment” and all of a sudden you think; Teachers marking my work? Marking my brothers work? Bad idea! What if he doesn’t like me and gives me a bad grade! Well now, if that’s the case then I think it’s teachers that need reform instead of our education system; as teachers should assess their students with professional experience , skill and due manner and not give anyone priority, as that would be unprofessional and that would damage education’s progression.Students are getting the wrong perspective on Junior Cycle reform, it’s not flawless, there’s some level of changes required! But don’t mind the rumours that say theres no curriculum and that favouritism will take over; because to that I answer with that two facts instead of two rumours; Schools and their assesments methods will be inspected regularly, and yes there is a curriculum and it’s much better than the original Junior Cert! Imagine this; you leave the Junior Cycle not thinking “Well that was stressful and a waste , suppose I’m ready for Leaving Cert now!” – Sorry, fellows your not, the leaving cert is rather different ! Instead you leave with instead of a stepping stone to further assesement i.e the Leaving Cert you leave with a stepping stone in your education, you leave with skills and abilities to learn and question the world around you.Students don’t need 2 lumps of stress, one at 14 and 15 and another at 17 and 18, they need education! The stress and uneccessary elements that once accompanied our Junior Cert are irrelevant and backwards, the approach the new JSCA brings us forward and I want to ask all our supporters as students to reflect on the Junior Cert and what it thought you, or more to the point what it didn’t teach you.Education isn’t about going from one exam to the other, it’s about learning!I’d encourage ye all to make your own choices and stances on this, but as an individual once opposed to these reforms I’d highly advise ye take a look at our Junior Cycle Student Perspective Document as put together by our Education Officer ; Joanna Siewerska.Wishing ye all the best,Craig McHugh,President
Address by Craig McHugh, ISSU President at NPCpp conference
[youtube link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDr1IFoNSPU"] Extract from speech made by ISSU President at the National Parent's Council Post-primary annual conference on Saturday November 15th 2014 in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
President, Chief Executive, Guests, Friends, and Parents,It’s 3:35 on a Friday afternoon, it’s been a long week of studying, catching up on school work from the days I've missed , and the beauty of JCSA disputes from teachers. It’s been an interesting week. I take my phone out of my pocket and the first sight I'm welcomed with is the news of the ASTI’s decision to strike on December 2nd. The typical student in me thinks – brilliant! Day off! A day to study, it is after-all smack bang in the middle of my exams! I tell some of my friends around me and there delighted , and then it hits home. Teachers, have decided to block one of the greatest reforms in education in Europe in a very long time, because their not satisfied.They’re not satisfied with the absence of rote-learning, the fact they’ll have to re-develop their methods of teaching, and assessment. I empathise on their fears of being pressured by people around them to swing marks in certain students favours but I must pose two points to this1) Act Professional, its your job as a teacher to teach, to educate, to inform. So remember this when your marking us too. Remember its our education. Be professional , ignore those around you, and separate your personal life from your work life. I’d personally favour anonymous examination numbers etc. but for the sake of progression I’m fine to put these to bed for now.2) And secondly, who marks our papers at university? A random lecturer who lives at the other side of the country? I didn’t think so…But its not my job to talk about the teachers, and their views, its not my place and its quite frankly not what I want to take this opportunity in speaking to ye about today. Because quite frankly I see today, and this week In general as a great step in the right direction. Imagine it…students and parents working together…sounds beautiful doesn’t it? But it makes sense? We’ve common interests and common goals and so we should be working together to help each other achieve these matters.Ladies and Gentlemen, Is mise Craig McHugh, Ta me seacht deag mbliana daois agus ta me ag freastail scoil I Colaiste RIs I nDún Dalgan!Im currently the President of the Irish Second-Level Students' Union, the national umbrella body for student councils in Ireland, and really any secondary student in Ireland for that matter. We represent student voice on matters concerning students and were a relatively new, and small organization, having been founded in 2008 and taking off in 2012. We’re growing by the day and over the next 5 months will be campaigning on a number of topics such as vote at 16, Equality for LGBT Students, the pressures of the leaving cert and proudly supporting the JCSA – Junior Cycle Student Award. So, today as a student, a son, a child, as a school student union activist, and as a fellow partner in education I want to talk to ye about JCSA . I want to tell you why I like it, why students like it, why its good for me and the incredible effect it will have on the future development of this country.The JCSA has been bombarded with negativity ever since the word go. Up until now, the public image of this reform has been no more than ; “Teachers don’t like it, their striking, this isn’t good for the kids, and I don’t want my daughter’s exams to be graded by someone who lives down the road for me.”But what if I challenged this generalised, media driven opinion? What if I laid out the facts? And what if, what if maybe a student who’s been through the current Junior Cert System had his say! Well then, it would go a little like this.The JCSA is all about skills. It’s all about equipping students with the ability to work with people, work with situations and develop real life skills. It doesn’t abandon the entire curriculum but instead adds to it, what it adds is quite simple; real education. Before I start off I wish to make a solid point; Teachers don’t have it easy. Teaching is difficult, complicated and unfortunately carries with it a confused appearance of wealth, and long summer holidays, I can assure you it’s not all as lovely as it sounds. ISSU and the NpcPP are Pro-JCSA but this does not and never will mean we will devalue the opinions of teachers and their unions. We merely ask they reflect on why they joined the teaching profession; was it to educate and foster the minds of young people or was it to play to the negative stereotypes of long summer holidays and public sector pay that so many harp on about? I’ve sat 12 Junior Cert Papers. 3 Ordinary. 1 Common Level. And 8 Higher Levels. What I remember from those 3 years of school can be shortened in to a sentence; I learned what I was supposed to learn so I could pass my exam, not what I needed to learn and not what I should have learned. I left the Junior Cycle system in 2012 not knowing where Bosnia and Herczegovina or Kosovo was (a rather embarrassing situation to find yourself in at an international conference) I left English with little or no Public Speaking skills and turned entirely away from the Personal Writing section, because they didn’t appreciate my imagination; I left Maths knowing how to solve Quadratic Trinomials up until the final paper, but not knowing how to solve problems outside of them. I left Junior Cycle with a suppressed imagination, and generally disappointed that I wasn’t educated merely just part of an assembly line. I felt unjust and somehow angry. But what made me angry most, was the pressure that was placed upon me to excel. My parents, fortunately are more “Do your Best” approach kind of people, so it wasn’t impressing my parents I was being bogged down by, but more the workload. The Junior Cert culminates three years of work performed by a student aged between 12 and 15 into 1 day of exam or exams. With no attention being placed on the vigorous effort put in by many students over the course of the cycle, a student aged 15 is expected to remember 3 years worth of information and material into one exam. Can someone please explain to me how this is meant to be a fair representation and marking of not just a students work but also their potential to excel in this subject in the future? I want to briefly touch on this fear that teachers have, and I also wish to empathize with them too, I respect their opinions but I do hope they respect their students and fellow partners in education too; the entire idealogy around teachers marking their own students or local student’s exams does on the surface sound terrifying to some? But what if we looked at the future? What if we recognised the fact that teacher-student assessment isn’t as bad as it sounds? For example, who grades the papers in college? An anonymous examiner? If teachers, grade their students professionally as should be done all year around regardless of the education system we serve under; Junior Cert or JCSA , there should be no problem in this area whatsoever. I wish to re-iterate the fact that real education is not present when rote-learning is too. Rote-Learning is all about learning answers off word for word, Irish Essays being testament to this. I can clearly remember friends of mine , performing better in their Irish Christmas exams because they learned a few essays off word for word, while I was blessed with an Irish teacher who thought me Irish and not just the ability to regurgitate information, it didn’t reflect like this when it came to assessment . I recently attended a JCSA Science Consultation Event, another step I value highly, the NCCA’s willingness and want for student voice in this dramatic reform of education; I entered the event feeling like I was the wrong kind of student to be there; but soon realised I wasn’t. I realised I like many lost interest out of science because I wasn’t being engaged properly, I wasn’t being shown the relationship between curriculum and the real world.The Junior Cert revolved around and became a slave to a set curriculum, the JCSA provides schools with the freedoms to introduce exciting new modules that will encourage creativity and spark greater interests in all aspects of education, including subjects never before assessed at this level such as Information Communications Technology (ICT). The JCSA allows and encourages students to challenge the ideologies of the real world and therefore think on their toes in situations relative to them as students and future key players in this society.I, as a school student activist, second level student, son of 2 parents and brother of a JCSA English Student (of whom I share great jealousy of) realise the importance of education. Education is the key to a strong minded, better equipped lifestyle and livelihood. Education should not be focused on moving on from one stage to another, but more how and why your moving on, and allow you to challenge the aspects of life, so that in the future you can make decisions for yourself. JCSA, I won’t lie isn’t flawless, I have my concerns, as we all do, but I’ve put them to bed for the sake of progression and the re-evaluation of the morale of education, because I believe JCSA is exactly what this country needs, and what this country’s future deserves.Ireland has a highly educated workforce, but I see in the future Ireland having a highly educated, creative and proactive workforce. The opportunities of personal development JCSA offers to students is incredible and I’d like to once again call on individuals to look into the logistics of what this reform is all about, because I can assure you it’s not all as scary and negative as it seems.Parents want change, students want change and I know teachers do too, it’s merely a matter of whether or not their willing to sacrifice those they worked so hard to serve just out of stubbornness to reform.I am delighted to be supporting the JCSA alongside the NpcPP and would love to see all partners in education do the same.Education should foster the minds of young people and provide them with the ability to function and work in the real world, the JCSA does just that. The legendary Don Myers asked me if the JCSA inspires…and I answer to you now Don, yes it does! It Inspires students to think, it prepares them for the real world and gets them interested in whats to come in the future. This education system has incredible potential, the reform for Junior cycle is only the beginning of what I believe to be an excellent era of reform and rejuvenation for educating the future of Ireland!Students deserve better, parents deserve better bang for their buck when it comes to paying for the expenses of 13 years in school but overall this country deserves a much greater system of education so we’re ready for the future! The world Is changing every day. Technology takes a greater role in our lives every day. But we mustn’t lose sight of the basis that education is built on, skills. As society evolves, education must evolve around it. We as students and ye as the parents need unfortunately cant strike , but we can use our voices and our voices will be heard! JCSA is good for this country, its great for parents and its even greater for students, but it is society as a whole that will benefit the most from the re-delevopment and the attention that is now being paid to the moral of education. Its time education received the priority of which it deserves and is allowed progress into the future. We , as a country, as a society, and us in particular as partners and influential individuals in the development of education have a role here ; we need to make sure JCSA becomes a reality for our sake as students for your sake as parents and for society’s sake to ensure this country moves on with the rest of the world! Its time Ireland started catching up in the education spectrum! Thank you all so much for your time in allowing me to speak. Myself and Joanna Siewerska , the ISSU education officer will be here for the remainder of today and this evening, and would be happy to talk to ye about anything. We’re also on a big membership drive in an effort to become even more representative so if you’ve any suggestions for us on how we can represent students better, pop over to us, because we don’t bite! Thank you all so much, thank you to the NPCpp for having us here today, and to Don Myers who’s been so kind to us and issu over the past few months with everything from support to advice, you really have helped us along the way and it’s a pleasure to be working with you. I’ll leave ye all now with a quote from William Deresiewicz – “The purpose of education is to make minds…not careers!” Thank you all , and enjoy the rest of the conference!