ISSU Update on the 2020 State Examinations #ClarificationNow

Following the announcement regarding the 2020 State Examinations, from the Minister for Education and Skills on Friday the 10th of April, the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) has been working with the Department of Education and Skills and all stakeholders in order to ensure that student voice is heard and that decisions made are fair and just.

We have raised your concerns and recommendations and are happy to announce that some progress has been made. Today, Friday 17th April, the Department of Education and Skills launched a working group with education stakeholders to discuss the implications and logistics of the decision to postpone examinations. Following this meeting the Department issued a press release stating the following:

‘The Department of Education and Skills today (Friday 17 April 2020) met with a range of stakeholders as part of planning for the State Examinations in response to the COVID-19 public health measures.

The meeting involved representatives of students, parents, teachers, school leadership and management bodies, the State Examinations Commission, the National Educational Psychological Service and the Department.

A series of further meetings will be held over the coming weeks as part of consideration and planning for the revised arrangements for the examinations, taking account of public health advice.

The Higher Education Authority is also observing at the meetings with the intention of feeding back to consultations it is involved with across the third level sector.

Further information for students about the decisions taken to date with regard to the State Examinations can be found at the State Examinations Commissions frequently asked questions document. https://examinations.ie/?l=en&mc=ex&sc=cov’

The ISSU will continue to work with the Department of Education and other stakeholders in order to ensure that student voices are heard and that decisions made leave no student behind.

Officer Blog: Communications Officer: Eiman Elsir

In the lead up to our Online Annual Assembly, our current NSE want to give our members and potential candidates an insight into their roles. Here we have our Communications Officer, Eiman Elsir, from Kildare.

I wanted to pursue the role of Comms Officer for the union, because I wanted to make sure that the students we are doing all this incredible work for, are actually aware of it and to help create as much engaging content as possible!

During my term, we’ve set up the new and improved  ISSU website and kept it up to date with content. We created the ISSU email newsletter where we send monthly updates to over 500 subscribers! As well as that we are receiving maximum engagement on all platforms especially Instagram! 

I’ve really enjoyed doing communications for ISSU. I wouldn’t consider myself a very creative person, but I’ve surprised myself and gained so much confidence in making graphics and navigating social media. 

Being on the NSE has given me so many skills you just cannot learn in a classroom, and I’ve managed to make so many friends and have a great time as well. One of my favourite memories has to be the Skills Academy we run every year, it was my first ISSU event back in 2017 and to come back as an NSE Officer was really incredible.

If you’re thinking of running for the NSE make sure to keep an open mind and to enjoy the time you have. The year flies by so make sure to give it 100% all the way through. Throughout the year you will learn so much so make sure to soak it all up and ask questions! 

For more info on how to run for the NSE click here. Remember deadline to nominate yourself is 26th of April.

ISSU Response to State Examinations Decision

The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union , as the national representative body for second-level students, acknowledges the recent announcement regarding the 2020 State Examinations by the Minister for Education and Skills. While some clarity has come with the confirmation that exams will not continue as normal in June, the ISSU is concerned that the proposals put forward have not yet been ironed out, and that student welfare needs to be adequately considered in the proposal. We recognise the difficulty and work involved  in making such decisions is monumental at this time however we feel that there are a number of factors still needing clarification before this contingency plan is implemented.

The ISSU’s Survey results, released on April 3rd and including the views of over 46,000 students, showed clearly that postponement of exams was not the preferred option of students, with just 9% of Junior Cycle and 19% of Leaving Cert students opting for it as a first preference. Among the reasons supplied for this low favourability were the unparalleled additions of stress and anxiety on students, discrepancies in the quality assurance of educational supports, and the infeasibility of matching this calendar to students wishing to progress with their education abroad. 

The ISSU is seriously concerned about the effects this decision will have on students’ mental health and wellbeing. No additional supports have been announced as of yet to help exam year students navigate through this extension of examinations.We are hopeful that the Department will take this as a top priority to implement a programme to support all stakeholders through this stressful and uncertain time.

This decision leaves many questions unanswered regarding exam dates, project deadlines and the value of unfinished continuous assessment in any final grade. The amount of face to face class time before exams cannot yet be defined due to the nature of HSE guideline announcements, and the provision in place for Junior Cycle exams leaves questions about how the 2020/21 year will progress for LCA and continuing 5th year students. 

The ISSU is disappointed that the student voice was not sufficiently consulted before this decision was finalised, despite students being the stakeholder most affected and being highly engaged over the last number of weeks. Many questions still remain to be answered, and the ISSU wishes to work with  the Department and other stakeholders to ensure these are answered clearly with student health and welfare at the heart of the decisions. 

Officer Blogs: Oifigeach na Gaeilge - Caoimhe Molloy

In the lead up to our Online Annual Assembly, our current NSE want to give our members and potential candidates an insight into their roles. Here we have our Oifigeach na Gaeilge, Caoimhe Ní Mhaolaí from Wicklow.

I ran for my role as I wanted to be more active in saol mór na Gaeilge, and thought ISSU was the best medium to do so.

This year, I travelled to Romania for the Speak Together conference on minority languages, I arranged the translation of the new ISSU constitution, I organised Oifigeach ns Gaeilge training in partnership with Conradh na Gaeilge, I was very active on the Gaeilge4all education reform campaign.

I’m particularly proud of translating the constitution! I think its really important that ISSU's resources exist in the first language of the state, and that we can represent students from both Irish and English medium schools as fairly as possible.

My advice for the future Oifigeach na Gaeilge is: every Gaeilgeoir has a very personal relationship with an Ghaeilge, but don't let this stop you from being open to other suggestions, is le gach duine í.

One thing I enjoyed about my time on the NSE was organising a new & improved Skills Academy workshop with Conradh na Gaeilge.

For more info on how to run for the NSE click here. Remember deadline to nominate yourself is the 26th or April!

ISSU Statement on the 2020 State Examinations Survey Report #ClarificationNow

The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) is continually striving for the clarity needed on the 2020 State Examinations contingency plan.

In response to the release of our ISSU State Examinations 2020 survey report the ISSU wishes to note;

• The ISSU is just one of the many stakeholders who are working with the Department of Education on this issue.  The ISSU alone does not have the power to change or implement plans for State Examinations, but we are working proactively with the Department, it’s bodies and other stakeholders in the education system to ensure the fairest solution for all students is found. A core aim of the ISSU is to represent all second-level students across Ireland and to ensure fairness and equality in the education system. 

• The results from the survey are reflective of the submissions from over 46,000 students in examination years. The survey took place over 6 days, and was shared to our 400 member schools and 36 Regional Officers to disseminate among students. The survey received significant coverage on social media and the resulting response equates to a sample of almost 37% of all students taking exams. This sample is significant, particularly given the amount of time afforded to the ISSU to consult with students, and is the largest survey response the union has ever received. The ISSU is working on behalf of students based on this significant input, however the recommendations provided at the end of this report have been given as a reflection of the submissions received and are in no way deemed to be the opinions of those who did not fill out the survey or submit their views. 

• There is considerable opposition to a proposal for predicted grading among Leaving Certificate students, which is also shared by other representative stakeholders. The ISSU recognises these concerns and is working to address these.

• Similarly, there is a majority in opposition to sitting Leaving Certificate exams in June as planned. Students have missed valuable contact time with teachers and fallen behind on project and practical work. If exams do go ahead, provisions and revised plans for assessment must be introduced, including a “No Detriment” policy as proposed by the ISSU and third-level student unions. 

• The ISSU has provided recommendations on a variety of possible outcomes for the State Examinations contingency plans. These recommendations have been directly  shaped by student feedback and are proposed to secure fairness and equality for all in decision-making.

The ISSU will continue to advocate that students, as key stakeholders in their education, are consulted and included in any decisions to be made regarding their education in the coming weeks and months.

ISSU State Examinations Survey Results: Students Call for Cancellation of Exams, with Some Concerns

From Thursday 26th March to Wednesday April 1st 2020, the ISSU ran a survey aimed at Junior and Leaving Certificate Students asking them what they wanted to see happen with the upcoming state examinations.

The response was enormous, with over 46,000 students responding to the survey alone in the short time frame, and hundreds more inputting their views via email and social media.

The key findings of the survey include;

• Junior Certificate students are vastly in favour of cancellation of the upcoming exams, and for predicted grades along with already-completed coursework to decide their final grades. 77% of students chose this as their preferred solution

• The largest amount of Leaving Certificate students are also in favour of cancellation of exams, and for predicted grades along with coursework to define their final grade. 49% of students chose this as their preferred solution.

• There is a significant minority of Leaving Certificate students who are against a solution involving predicted grades. Indeed there is a large polarisation between students who want to sit an exam at some stage in the coming months, versus those who do not.

• All students want immediate clarity from the Department of Education on if and how the State Exams will be run.

The ISSU will be advocating on behalf of students based off the results of this survey, and looking to address the concerns shared by many students, particularly regarding predicted grading.

Where the main recommendations of this survey may not be possible, the ISSU will advocate for the next most favoured option among students.

The ISSU will now look to cooperate with the Department of Education & Skills and other educational stakeholders to find a solution that will alleviate the stress and uncertainty that has faced students in recent weeks, and be as fair as possible to all students.

The entire report including further analysis of the survey and the ISSU’s recommendations to the Department of Education & Skills can be read here: