ISSU Welcomes Removal of School Profiling and Further Updates on Leaving Cert 2020 Results

The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) welcomes the recent announcement from the Minister for Education, Norma Foley T.D., that school profiling will be removed from the Leaving Certificate 2020 Calculated Grades. By removing this element the ISSU feel that students will get an equal opportunity to achieve the grades they deserve in the Leaving Certificate this year; irrespective of the school they attend.

The ISSU believe that the exceptional circumstances which the Leaving Certificate students of 2020 have faced, have been reflected in the relevant changes to the calculated grading system. In relation to concerns on how the algorithm may have affected students from disadvantaged schools, it is evident that the recent decisions are a proactive step to ensure that similar issues which transpired in other countries are not repeated here. 

Standardisation is applied to the grading process which is in line with each previous examination year. The ISSU recognises the necessity to ensure these grades stand up to scrutiny so in years to come the 2020 Leaving Certificate results hold equal value to other years. Before the standardisation process was applied it was noted by the Department that some subjects had doubled or tripled the amount of H1s awarded in comparison to any other academic year. With this standardisation process, the Department has mitigated grade inflation but also brought up the grades where grades had been underestimated.

The ISSU also welcomes the news that additional places will now be made available in higher and further education affording students a greater opportunity to enter their desired course. 

Throughout this process, the ISSU have continually advocated for a fair and equitable solution to the postponement of the Leaving Certificate exams which would not unfairly advantage or disadvantage any student. The focus of the ISSU going forward will continue to be ensuring that students are fully supported as the results are issued and the transition to further and higher education begins. To do this, we are aiding in the work of the National Parents Council Post-Primary (NPC-PP) Leaving Cert Helpline which will run between the 7th and 12th of September. We have also launched a web page with access to a variety of discounts and free services to help 2020 Leaving Certificate students study for their November Exams. 

ISSU President Reuban Murray commented “In a normal year the Leaving Certificate results are a very stressful and anxious time for students and families. This year's cohort has experienced a year like no other and our main priority, alongside achieving an equitable process, is to ensure that they are supported and treated as fairly as possible.”

In addition, the ISSU wishes to encourage public platforms to be mindful of the immense stress students experience during this time as they await their results. We would ask that platforms refrain from sensationalising the results and heightening students' anxiety.

Mr. Murray expressed the ISSU’s best wishes to the class of 2020, saying “The Leaving Certificate is a stepping stone for students as they progress on to the next phase of their lives, but it does not define them or their abilities as a person. It is an exciting time and we wish every student the best of luck in whatever career or direction they wish to take.” 

Report of ISSU Digital Sustainability Consultation Launched

The ISSU Digital Sustainability Consultation was held on August 15th 2020., with 30 students from across Ireland coming together online to explore the topic of Sustainability.

The day consisted of a panel in the morning, followed by workshops to give participants a grounding in activism and advocacy. Participants then broke into discussion groups looking at the key challenges surrounding their area of sustainability, and the solutions that can be implemented by ISSU.

The results of these discussion groups are outlined in the DSC Report, and will be used by the Sustainability Officer to incorporate student input into their work for their term, and to deliver on the areas that students have indicated as being of key importance to them. Though all 108 action points may not be deliverable in a singular term, they will work to provide a framework for the 2020/21 term as well as future officers. 

The report can be found below.

ISSU Outlines Safety Concerns regarding Reopening of Schools

The ISSU has issued a letter to the Minister for Education Norma Foley and the Department of Education & Skills outlining the serious concerns students have regarding the re-opening of schools. This coincided with the #Safety4Students hashtag trending at number 1 in Ireland on Wednesday 19th August.

The letter, outlining each of the concerns and need for more inclusive planning, is shared below.

_____________________________

Dear Minister Norma Foley, 

In light of the recently announced government restrictions, the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union is calling for clarification on a number of critical concerns regarding the restrictions now implemented and guidelines provided for the return to school. Evidently, students, families, teachers and all in the school community recognise the necessity to return to school and want to return to education having been out of the classroom since early March. However, this requires clearer communications on the health and safety protocols expected within schools. To ensure an effective transition in the reopening of schools it is pivotal that guidance and clarification is provided on  the following areas of concern. 

The ISSU is requesting that the Department of Education and Skills provide the guidance given by the health and safety authorities, outlining the rationale whereby numbers within classrooms / school buildings are deemed acceptable in contrast to the current restrictions imposed by government. The government has also clearly indicated that citizens are expected to avoid public transport if at all possible, yet a substantial number of students will rely on this mode of transport to get to and from school every day. The ISSU would ask the department to explain the viability of this and the alternative arrangements for students who can no longer travel to school via public transport due to personal and / or medical concerns.

The ISSU recommends that a risk assessment contingency plan be developed and distributed to all school stakeholders, in conjunction with the relevant health authorities. This plan should define the threshold number of cases where schools will be required to close locally and nationally, provide guidance on the measures to be taken in a school should a case/cases be confirmed and the steps to follow for the continuity of teaching and learning in the event of a closure. This is particularly important as a full school closure was mandated on the 13th of March with 70 cases confirmed nationally which is significantly less than the newly confirmed cases over the last two weeks. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, recently commented it is “almost inevitable that if schools open that there will be clusters in some schools”, emphasising the necessity for this contingency plan to be clearly communicated and provided to all students, families, teachers and school management in advance. 

The Minister for Education has previously stated that the responsibility to provide tuition online to immunocompromised students will be the sole responsibility of the school. Any student who is immunocompromised or has a family member who is immunocompromised must be able to protect themselves and their families without fear of penalty. These students must be facilitated in receiving meaningful, proactive online tuition if unable to return to school. The ISSU is calling for the department to  develop a national framework of how this online tuition should be provided. 

The discrepancies of the digital divide resulted in varied education received during school closures. This  must not become a barrier should online tuition be the only viable option again under possible future restrictions.The ISSU welcomed the financial aid package to help address issues regarding online learning, however support and specific guidelines from a national framework on online learning is essential, not only for students but for teachers to be able to facilitate and sustain an equitable teaching experience. Procedures should be implemented to include a review of online teaching and learning within the School Self-Evaluation and Inspectorate advisory arrangements for 2020/21. This is crucial to ensure fair and equal access to education for all especially those who are at high risk and left with no other options than to engage in learning online. Online learning should be treated with the same level of accountability and review as in class tuition.

In the event of a localised school closure students and teachers will be expected to transition very quickly again to online platforms. The ISSU acknowledges and appreciates the work undertaken during the closures by teachers and would encourage the department to have all necessary supports, supplies and CPD given preemptively. Stated in a department circular on the 13th of March “where possible, provide online resources for students or online lessons where schools are equipped to do so.”. All schools should be equipped sufficiently to provide online lessons in the coming academic year due to the uncertain nature of the pandemic and the likelihood that there may be some closures. Every student has the right to a certain standard and level of education that should be fair for all.  

The ISSU recognises that students play a key role in the safe reopening of schools and have  responsibilities in this process as well. All stakeholders will work collectively for the safety of the school community. A prerequisite must be set that in the event a class is not adhering to appropriate guidelines that a student is given the right to stop the class and bring the breach of guidelines to the attention of the class teacher or designated COVID-liason staff member. The class should not resume until it is safe for students and teachers present. The challenges faced by students are multifaceted in the return to education. Clarification is needed on the concerns aforementioned in order to prioritise the welfare of students and ensure that no student is left behind due to circumstances outside of their control. 

We eagerly await your reply and hope to collaborate on establishing practical actions for the concerns highlighted.

Yours Sincerely, 

Reuban Murray

ISSU President

_____________________________

ISSU issues Letter of Concern to Minister Foley regarding Calculated Grades Standardisation Process

Today, Tuesday 18th August 2020, the ISSU has issued a Letter of Concern to Minister Norma Foley regarding the national standardisation process of Leaving Certificate grades. This follows the release of standardised results in the United Kingdom and the following revoking of these grades and awarding of previously predicted grades in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

The letter reads as follows;

__________________________________________________________________

Dear Minister Norma Foley,

The ISSU is calling for  written confirmation that the national standardisation process will not advantage or disadvantage any students receiving Leaving Certificate results in September 2020. It is vital that the Irish education system does not have a repeat of the dreadful impact on students which we have seen in the United Kingdom.

Nicola Sturgeon MSP, recently noted a crucial point stating  that they had “focused on the system - not on the individual.” In this time of uncertainty, the Irish education system has a chance to learn from the mistakes made using a similar grading model, to make sure that our calculated grades system is at the best standard it can be and is a successful process that does not advantage or disadvantage an individual based on location, gender or school status.

We need to look at what has happened in other countries,see the mistakes that were made and make sure they don't happen here. 

Students have put their trust in the Department of Education and Skills to ensure that the calculated grades process will be a fair and equitable one. Continuously noted throughout the establishment of this model was the professional ability of our teachers and schools to award students accurately and adequately on their work. This professional judgement should not be overlooked and altered based on a statistical algorithm never to have been trialled previously.  We have confidence that your department will work to ensure that the negative impact of standardisation seen in results released over the last number of weeks does not reoccur in Ireland and that the hard work of our students and the teachers will not be downgraded based on statistical figures . The ISSU feels this is necessary to emphasize again that it is essential that the national standardisation process does not advantage or disadvantage any student. Students should be awarded the grades merited by their teachers.  

Evidently, the calculated grades process cannot be reviewed until the grades have been released; however, we would like to reiterate the students' trust in the department and expectations to deliver a fair alternative in this process for students as previously promised. 

The ISSU is asking that you will arrange for a comprehensive review of the calculated grades standardisation process immediately following the release of this year's results. Following the release of the results we would also ask for the department to release the statistical model and algorithm implemented in the calculated grading process to allow for  independent evaluation. 

We eagerly await your response.

Reuban Murray

ISSU President

ISSU Welcomes Founding of Secondary Students' Union of Northern Ireland (SSUNI)

The ISSU welcomes the establishment of a second-level students union in Northern Ireland.

ISSU President Reuban Murray stated on the occasions “We congratulate and support the efforts of these individuals to grow and create a platform to bring about change in their system. We hope and have every confidence that they will excel in their endeavor to represent and advocate for their peers in their first year and for the many years to follow”.

Cormac Savage, SSUNI President, echoed these views, noting “I’m personally looking forward to working with ISSU on cross-border projects and being able to co-operate to give every student in Ireland a voice”.

The ISSU looks forward to a dynamic and diverse partnership in the years ahead to strengthen the voice of the student on this island.

Call for Members of Sanitary Products Working Group

The ISSU Welfare Officer Matthew is forming a working group to discuss the importance of freely available sanitary products in second-level schools. 

The ISSU realises the importance of breaking the stigmas surrounding normal bodily functions including menstruation - the working group will work with members of the National Student Executive to campaign for freely available sanitary products.

Meetings are foreseen to take place online, with the working group running until May 2021.