ISSU & USI Issue Joint Letter to Education Ministers regarding Leaving Cert Results & Higher Education Places
The Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU) and Union of Students in Ireland (USI) have issued a joint letter to Ministers Norma Foley and Simon Harris regarding the potential implications of the calculated grades errors on Leaving Certificate results and higher education places. Included in the letter is the request for an immediate meeting with both Ministers, to tackle the issue proactively and fairly. The letter is signed off by ISSU and USI Presidents Reuban Murray and Lorna Fitzpatrick, respectively.
The letter can be seen below.
ISSU Statement: 2020 Leaving Certificate Calculated Grading Errors
The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) expresses its disappointment at the unexpected announcement of the serious errors in the Leaving Certificate 2020 Calculated Grading Process. The ISSU is very concerned about the undue stress and anxiety this will undoubtedly cause students,however, we welcome the fact that these errors have been found and that the Department of Education and Skills’ have now committed to rectify this immediately. Our focus is on supporting the students and engaging in communications with the Department to mitigate the drastic impacts these errors will have - we want to see this resolved.
Following this announcement, the ISSU is calling on the Department and Minister for Education and Skills to ensure that students are communicated with immediately and given the necessary information and support. Clear timelines surrounding the issuing of new grades and updated CAO offers should be established as soon as possible to minimise this additional stress and uncertainty. Students will all receive a text informing them of the errors and if their grades have been affected.
The ISSU feels very strongly that students who have been affected by these errors, which may result in a change in their grades and subsequently the points received, should be given the opportunity to enter any new course offer in this academic year. Additional places should be allocated where necessary to allow for this. This is vital to assure the Leaving Certificate students of 2021 that they will not be disadvantaged further by reducing places available in courses in September 2021.Students who may now be offered a different course through the CAO must be afforded the same transitional support from higher education institutions as current first years have received. CAO applicants who received no course offers in the initial rounds but who may now be entitled to a place in higher education must be ensured that their course choice list is accurate on the system and offered a place on the course they should be rightfully awarded. Furthermore, the deadline of October 2nd for registering to sit the Leaving Certificate Examinations 2020 is not substantial enough to allow students to consider their options having not received clarification on these errors or appeal results.
The ISSU has particular concerns about the financial situation students may now potentially face as a result of a change in their position in higher education. Urgent clarity is needed surrounding SUSI grant holders who may now be offered a change in their course of study after already receiving a college place and processing fees. Financial assistance will be required for students who missed out on a place in college initially and will now potentially be entering college. The ISSU also believes that students who have paid deposits / installments for accommodation places which are no longer needed should be offered full reimbursements in the interest of fairness.
ISSU President Reuban Murray Commented; “This is going to have a very real and serious impact for a lot of students, we need to ensure all education stakeholders work together to make sure that the financial and mental impacts of these errors are mitigated and addressed because it wasn't the students fault that this happened. We welcome the fact that these errors have been found - but now we need to address the impacts of them.”
We're Hiring: Clerical Officer, Part-Time
The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union is looking to hire a part-time Clerical Officer to join the team.The primary aim of the ISSU Clerical Officer is to support the secretarial functions of the ISSU National office on a fixed term basis. This role involves clerical and administrative duties to support the development of the National and regional organisations of the ISSU.
The ISSU is an equal opportunities employer and is strongly committed to diversity and equality throughout the organisation as a whole. All employment offers are subject to Garda Vetting in line with Child Protection best practice.
Please direct questions to recruitment@issu.ie
As part of this online application candidates will need:
To upload a copy of your CV (.pdf/word)
To complete a cover letter online
For more information on the role itself and how to apply click here : Careers at ISSU
Seoladh an tSuímh Idírlín ANDIÉ nua as Gaeilge
Ó inniu, Dé hAoine 18ú Meán Fómhair, tá suíomh idirlín agus seirbhisí an Aontais na nDaltaí Iarbhunscoile in Éirinn ar fáil trí Ghaeilge. Stiúr Oifigeach na Gaeilge ANDIÉ, Katie Halpin-Hill ó Rinn ua gCuanach agus Oifigeach Cumarsáide an aontais, Emer Neville an tionscnamh seo.
Ag labhairt ag seoladh an tsuímh inniu, dúirt Halpin-Hill gur “cuid mhór í an Ghaeilge inár gcultúr, san oideachas agus sa thodhchaí. Teastaíonn ón ANDIÉ tábhacht na teanga a chur chun cinn san obair a dhéanaimid. Táimid ag obair go dian le bheith mar instiúid dátheangach, ag cinntiú nach bhfuil aon dhalta fágaithe ar an leataobh.”
Tagann an tionscnamh seo tar éis a sheoladh dearadh nua an tsuímh idirlín ANDIÉ, agus ina dhiadh borradh luaiteachais in ANDIÉ sna míonna anuas. “Ina dhiaidh cúpla imeachtaí san aontas i mbliana, tá an aontas faoi bhorradh luaiteachais. Tá súil agam go gcuirfidh an suíomh nua Gaeilge leis an mborradh seo, agus go gcuirfidh sé le rochtain a dheimhniú do gach dhalta sa tír obair an aontais a fheiscint.”
Tá acmhainní ANDIÉ anois ar fáil trí Ghaeilge agus as Béarla ag issu.ie.
ISSU Launches New Website as Gaeilge
As of Friday 18th September, the ISSU now provides its website and services in Irish as well as English. The resource has been led by ISSU Irish Language Officer and Rinn ua gCuanach resident Katie Halpin-Hill, and ISSU Communications Officer Emer Neville.
Speaking at the launch, Ms. Halpin-Hill noted that “the Irish language is an imperative part of our culture, our education and our future. At the ISSU, we want to reflect that importance in our work. Over the past few months, we have been striving to become a bilingual institution to ensure that no student is left behind.”
This move comes after a reform of the ISSU website, and an explosion of engagement with the ISSU in recent months. “Following a number of events in the past few months our engagement has risen substantially which is absolutely fantastic to see. I’m hopeful that the addition of our Irish language website will further increase this rise as well as making our work and supports accessible for more students.”
The ISSU’s resources and supports are now available in Irish, and English at issu.ie.
ISSU Launches Mental Health Manual to Support Students on Return to School
The ISSU has launched a back-to-school mental health resource “How’s Your Head”, aiming to help students to get back on track mentally on their return to school.
The initiative, led by ISSU Donegal Regional Officer India Kennedy and supported by the National Student Executive, has also been supported by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office and ETB National Parents’ Association.
On the occasion, India noted “I’m delighted to finally be able to launch the manual which is available for every second level student in the country. Mental health is a serious problem in Ireland today especially given the current circumstances. I, myself have had my own personal struggles with mental health so I wanted to put something together for students so that when they were feeling down, they had this resource to support them. I’m so grateful for the support I received and hope that the manual is beneficial for students”.
The ISSU had campaigned during the summer for increased support for students on the return to school, in collaboration with the Institute of Guidance Counselors (IGC), UNICEF Ireland and the National Parents’ Council Post-Primary (NPCPP). The ISSU welcomed the announcement of increased guidance counselor hours for the upcoming academic year, and with this resource aims to enable students to help themselves and their peers during this transition time.
ISSU President Reuban Murray commended India on her work, saying “ The ISSU is a youth-led organisation whose members have been real leaders in representing students during the disruption caused by COVID-19. While we work towards creating a more holistic education system, initiatives like this can hopefully bridge the gap and support students in the coming months. We wish to thank all partners for contributing to this resource and collaborating with the ISSU on this important topic”.
A physical copy of the manual will be shared with ETB and ISSU member schools, while the full resource is available to all students at issu.ie/mental-health-manual