More than 730 schools around the State closed their doors on Thursday due to the teachers’ union strike, leaving over 333,000 students at home with a day off school. While some might have been happy at the prospect of a lie-in, others were ready to weigh-in on the ongoing educational debate which directly affects their schooling.
Anna McEvoy (16) and Aoife Cahill (17), fifth year students at Muckross Park College in Donnybrook, say the Government needs to commit to reforming the Leaving Cert if it plans to change the junior cycle.
"You can't have continuous assessment for the Junior Cert if you're not going to have it for the Leaving Cert," says Aoife. "No one's going to know what they're going in for. House exams can prepare you a certain amount but they're not going to prepare you for hour-long exams."
Anna says the Irish public should trust the teachers’ decision to strike.
“The teachers know best, they’re teaching the subject.”
Aoife says the current Junior Cert exam system suited her study pattern but that it depends on the student.
“I think it’s a personal thing for everyone. I like having those big exams and having two years to work for them. But if I had continuous assessment, sometimes I just get so bored, and if I’m not doing study, then that’s I don’t know how many per cent gone . You can’t fix that.”
Louisa Vagge (16) and Una Ní Cionnaidh (16), also students at Muckross, say they’d prefer to see more continuous assessment at school. However, Louisa worries that internal correcting by teachers could lead to bias.
“Teachers always have opinions of students, they can’t not,” she says. “It’s not fair on them because it’s more work for the teachers.”
Sian Thewlis-Duggan (14), who is a third year student at Coláiste Iosagáin and will sit her Junior Cert in June, says she is happier taking the exam over a two week period rather than submitting work throughout the year. However, she’d like to see changes to the Leaving Cert curriculum.
“I think the Leaving Cert puts a lot of pressure on students and I think your whole life depending on one exam is a bit too much.”
In central Dublin near Stephen’s Green, David McCormick (14) and Jonathon Toal (14) are heading home after rugby practice in nearby CUS (Catholic University School).
David says he supports the strike because it means he has an extra day to study for his test on Friday.
Does he really plan to study on his day off?
“We have a test every six weeks, so we get to study for the test on Friday. Yeah, I think I might study.”
Jonathon says he’d like to see a reformed junior cycle.
“I think there’s too much pressure on us, we’re only 14,” he says. “I don’t think it even affects your job a lot so it’s too much pressure just for that.”
