Exam body failed to follow advice on special needs supports

The State Examinations Commission failed to implement a series of recommendations aimed at making the provision of exam supports for students with special needs fairer and more transparent, it has emerged.

The commission last week announced it was reviewing the operation of its "reasonable accommodation" scheme after fresh complaints this year from a number of parents of children with conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and autism that they were refused readers, scribes or other supports to help them complete State exams.

However, The Irish Times has learned that the commission was told by an expert advisory group seven years ago that the existing scheme should be overhauled.

The group, chaired by Prof Áine Hyland, recommended that decisions on support applications be communicated to students at least six months before the Junior Cert or Leaving Cert began, while also calling for a "Disability Advisory Panel" to be set up to monitor delivery.

The Irish Times has obtained a copy of the group's report which was never published.

Recommendations

Its key recommendations included:

* A revised framework of principles, which takes account of legislative, educational and social environment changes should replace the current framework of principles set out in 2000;

* Regular monitoring and auditing of the scheme should be undertaken;

* The role and function of the reader or scribe may need to be more specifically delineated and monitored;

* Use of new technology instead of scribes should be explored;

* Current provision for candidates who encounter trauma and adversity during or close to the examination period is “inadequate” and is in need of review and development;

The commission continues to refer to the 2000 framework of principles in its operation of the scheme.

In a statement, however, it said its new review “will have regard to the report and recommendations of the 2008 advisory group. It is intended that this review will be undertaken in the coming months”.

Asked why the advisory group report had not been published at the time, it said the recommendations "were submitted to the Department of Education and Skills and it was decided that this would best be considered in the context of the reforms at Junior Cycle".

Prior to this year's State exams, Ann Heelan, executive director of the Association for Higher Education and Disability (Ahead) called for a review of the scheme, saying the commission's view on what constituted reasonable accommodation was "not up-to-date with modern technology".

She highlighted instances where applications were rejected just days before the exams began.

Last year, 8,857 candidates applied under the scheme. Of these, 7,664 (86.5 per cent) were granted an exam support, while 1,193 (13.5 per cent) were refused.