ISSU Call for Rethink of 2021 Examinations
Today, Tuesday 12th January 2021, the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union issued an open letter to the Minister for Education & Skills Norma Foley calling for the traditional state exams to be replaced with an alternative format for 2021.
The ISSU is currently consulting with students in its 480 member schools, and through this process plans to bring forward student views and potential solutions for the 2021 state examinations in due course. A survey launched last week by the Union has already received 20,000 responses, the results of which will be published this weekend. A Town Hall of member student councils will also take place this weekend to hear further student feedback on the state of online learning, school closures and the state examinations.
Speaking on the matter, ISSU President Reuban Murray stated “Students are really struggling, particularly those in exam years. Leaving Certificate students are entering their fourth month of online learning of a 2-year senior cycle, and even though we knew that schools were not able to deliver online learning to the same standard last year, these gaps have not been filled or addressed in the intervening months. Now we are looking at an uneven playing field for students in the home stretch towards exams, and student stress and anxiety is unbelievably high”.
Regarding a potential solution to the state examinations, ISSU Education Officer Alicia O’Sullivan stated “This is something that still needs to be answered by the Department, and we will be feeding into these decisions by continuing to consult with our members to ensure that we are representing their views and concerns correctly. We want to work with the Department and other education stakeholders by exploring innovative ways that the exam classes of 2021 can be awarded grades fairly and safely, and we now have the time to evaluate these processes and give guidance to students. This needs to be decided on soon however; we cannot string students along with months of uncertainty and backtracking on decisions to the detriment of students’ welfare. We do know however, that the traditional State Exams cannot go ahead as was initially planned”.
The ISSU will be welcoming students from member schools to join a Town Hall Webinar this Saturday 16th January from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Students may register at issu.ie/town-hall
The ISSU Survey on Reopening of Schools & State Examinations will run until Thursday 14th January at 12pm. This survey is open to all second-level students.
The Letter sent to Minister Foley can be read below.
______________________
Dear Minister Foley,
I am writing on behalf of the Irish Second-level Students’ Union’ to inform you of the ISSU’s position on the State Exams, as of today, Tuesday 12th Jan 2021.
Last year, students, parents, teachers, the Department, the SEC and members of the advisory group were subjected to an exhausting and prolonged period of stress, anxiety and fear. This cannot happen again. If we tether ourselves to the idea of trying to make the traditional state examinations go ahead then we will repeat our mistakes from last year. It will cause students, stakeholders and the Department another prolonged and unnecessary burden of fear, anxiety and pain. We need to ask ourselves what the weeks and months ahead will look like for us all, whilst reflecting on the strain the last few months have brought.
Scotland and Wales cancelled their exams in recognition of the mental duress that students and the entire system would face and we need to ask ourselves - have we given our situation as much consideration? The calls from teachers, students and parents that we are now hearing are not going to get any quieter. It is now clear to the ISSU that the traditional 2021 State Exams cannot go ahead as normal. If we take a considered, pragmatic and compassionate decision now, we will avoid the detrimental impact of a rushed plan with minimal stakeholder input that we suffered last year.
The loss of in-person tuition for exam years for the month of January, paired with the loss of up to 3 months tuition in 2020, are important factors in us bringing forward this position - but it is the duress, the mental damage and the anguish which students have endured during this pandemic that has prompted us to come to this conclusion. We can no longer justify this.
We are about to subject the entire system and ourselves to this taxing strain again. Let us recognise the situation we are in and move forward with a clear path. Last year we spent too long trying to justify holding the exams "by hook or by crook". Let's not make the same mistake.
The ISSU is calling on the Department of Education and all stakeholders to meet together to evaluate our options for alternative State Exams and openly discuss the changes we must make.
Please consider this letter and the merits of the points we have raised.
Is mise le meas,
Reuban Murray, ISSU President
Frequently Asked Questions Zoom with the ISSU NSE
Members of the ISSU NSE will be holding an FAQ Zoom to answer the most common questions students are seeking clarity on such as:
"what's happening with the mock exams?" "will your survey be brought to the Department?" and many more. All questions were submitted to us by students through our instagram story and direct messages.
Be sure to tune in - Monday January 11th @ 18:00 on Facebook!
The video can be watched below:
Leaving Cert 2021 Instagram Live
We aware there is a number of things that need to clarified following the meeting we attended today.
We will be holding an instagram live at 20:30pm tonight with our President Reuban & Education Officer Alicia who will clarify everything.
Leaving Cert 2021 Update
The ISSU did not advocate against Calculated Grades for LC 2021.
The ISSU attended a meeting this morning and called for an urgent meeting with the SEC to discuss the impact of school closures on the state exams and evaluate what changes and contingencies should be put in place. We have a large scale survey out right now collecting the view of students.
We are fighting for students every day. we've made clear that online tuition is no substitute for face-to-face learning and if students do not receive adequate online learning over the next month then some students WILL have lost almost 4 months of tuition.
This will have a direct impact on the state exams and we have to make the necessary changes.
We have been listening to our members and to students who have contacted us and taken part in our survey, we will be continuing the consultation process on LC 2021.
Statement from the ISSU National Student Executive (NSE) regarding Extended Closure of Schools
It is clear that students have lost confidence in the plan to safely return to schools. The Department of Education & Skills has failed to effectively communicate with students and in doing so they have lost the trust of students.
This must change. We need open and honest communication with students, the school community and all education partners.
As the National Student Executive (NSE) of the ISSU we call on the Department to confirm the extension of school closures, however we acknowledge that this will now lead to further challenges for all students. It is essential that no student is left behind in the provision of online learning. Last year's provision of online education was insufficient, and ultimately led to the necessary implementation of calculated grades. We must ensure that every student gets an equal education over the month of January, and into the future, if necessary.
Today we called an emergency executive meeting to discuss recent developments surrounding the ongoing pandemic, and what it means to the student population of Ireland. A survey launched on the issue of schools reopening and state exams has so far shown overwhelming support for the extension of school closures for 6th year students, and further data on this survey will be released in the coming weeks. The NSE, taking on board feedback received until the point of that meeting, had decided to join the calls for the extension of school closures for 6th year students before this evening’s media reports.
We remain in favour of the proposal that students with special educational needs (SEN) should receive in-person tuition, if possible.
The ISSU is calling for a meeting of all educational stakeholders, the Department of Education & Skills, and Minister Norma Foley to discuss how the State Examinations will be affected if schools are closed and the provision of Online Learning.
The ISSU would like to encourage any second-level student who is feeling uncertain or stressed in these times to avail of the mental health services that can be found on our website https://www.issu.ie/ and to engage with the union in the days and weeks ahead.
Signed,
The ISSU NSE
ISSU to Survey Student Views on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations 2021
The ISSU has today, Thursday January 7th, launched a survey inviting students to share their views and concerns regarding the reopening of schools and provisions for the 2021 State Examinations. This follows the announcement on Wednesday 6th January that schools would not reopen until February for in-person learning, except for 6th year students and students with Special Educational Needs (SEN). The ISSU wishes to acknowledge the massive feedback and concern shared by many students to the organisation regarding this decision, particularly regarding the welfare and safety of 6th year students, and has decided that consultation with students will allow the organisation to be more informed in its advocacy on this issue in the coming days and weeks.
ISSU President Reuban Murray stated “In a normal year the Junior and Leaving Cert are stressful endeavours, this exceptional year the stress has been compounded and students are scared. This fear and anxiety is borne from a place of confusion and being left in limbo as to basic questions; “How will I sit my exams now?”, “Are schools a safe place for students?” and “How will my mocks take place?” The ISSU met with the Minister and Department of Education Officials as recently as Monday 4th January, and was assured by the Department of Education that schools were safe and that they would be reopening fully next week for all students.
“Later that evening” Mr. Murray noted, “news was leaking from the Department that all students could be out of school until February. The communication on this has been very messy and stressful for students, and while we will take onboard all feedback from this ongoing consultation in our representative work going forward, we are asking the Department for open, honest and genuine communication with students and the school community. If the Department continues to leave students and stakeholders in the dark until the last minute, then unnecessary stress and fear will continue to spread and confidence in the Department and the education system will suffer.
The ISSU has opened this survey to all students, given the seriousness of the current situation and the massive amounts of feedback already received via social media and other channels. As a membership-based organisation working with student councils, the ISSU will also be consulting directly with its 480 member schools through an information webinar and town halls over the weekend. Details on this will be shared soon and with member schools and student councils directly.