In the context of the current global pandemic the ASTI recognizes that the emergency Calculated Grades for Leaving Cert 2020 process has been necessary in order to allow our Leaving Cert students to progress to the next stage of their lives.
The ASTI will retain an open mind on how the process has transacted until the results are issued and students and teachers have an opportunity to consider the outcomes.
The postponement of the Leaving Certificate exams and the implementation of contingency arrangements has been far from ideal. However, teachers participated in the process in good faith and worked hard to ensure fair outcomes for their students.
We note the detail of today’s announcement by Minister Foley; in particular that 79% of grades which students will achieve will align with the estimated marks of their schools. We also note that there will be no variation on this point for students who attended DEIS schools.
While 4% of student’s grades will be increased, the ASTI has some concern that 17% of Calculated Grades will be a grade lower than that estimated by their school.
The ASTI welcomes the move by the Government to remove a controversial measure from the process which involved considering historical data of schools within the process. This addresses any perception that school profiling is part of the process.
The ASTI also welcomes the announcement of plans to increase the number of places in Higher and further education by 1250 places.
