THE LEAVING Cert curriculum needs to be recast to reflect the fundamental principles of education and to take account of best practice internationally, a leading youth organisation has said.
Youth Work Ireland made its call for widespread reform of the curriculum following research by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) which highlights the negative effect of the exams on the health of students.
The preliminary findings of the Post-Primary Longitudinal Study, carried out for the National Council of Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), show four out of 10 Leaving Cert students lose sleep because of worry.
The study of 900 students in 12 case-study schools, to be published later this year, shows a higher level of stress among girls doing the Leaving Cert, according to Emer Smyth, research professor with the ESRI. She said the findings were consistent with international research which shows high levels of stress among students taking final second-level exams.
The research shows girls spend longer on their homework than boys, an average of four hours or more per night, while boys tend to study for an hour or less, she said.
Youth Work Ireland said there is need for a much wider debate involving continuous assessment, credit systems, team working, critical thinking and industry linkage.
The group warned the process needs to look at the exam and syllabus in the broadest way and focus on the interests of young people by involving them in changes.
Michael McLoughlin, director of central services with Youth Work Ireland, said: “Many do well out of the Leaving Cert but the enormous build-up of pressure coupled with our persistently high drop-out rates must spur on the reform process . . . Previous reforms such as the Leaving Cert Applied, vocational and transition year have shown that mainstream schools can be adapted to serve all young people.”
NCCA chair Prof Tom Collins, interim president of National University of Ireland Maynooth, said it was problematic that children from disadvantaged areas continue to underperform in the Leaving Cert points system.
He said there was merit in lottery systems for allocating places for students who meet basic qualifying criteria, adding he would prefer discipline areas to set minimal qualifying criteria. “The portfolio is an interesting option, we have learned more how they can be used and deployed in entrance examinations. I think standardised testing – which we’ve introduced in medicine – may offer some possibilities, though I am concerned people can cram for those as well.”
Speaking to RTÉ, he said an emerging problem with the points system was the focus of what students are going to do when they get to college tends to be lost in the points race: “I don’t have a difficulty with trying to find the best students for the most appropriate courses. The problem at the moment is it is constructed as a race and many children are in a race where they know they are in the wrong racetrack.”
Meanwhile, students worried about the upcoming Leaving Cert results can access helplines and support services by texting the word “HeadsUp” to 50424.
HeadsUp is a free 24-hour text-based service by Rehab to provide young people with contact details and opening hours for a range of helplines. The service is also providing a dedicated “Leaving Cert Results Corner” on its website, which offers advice, including on how to prepare for receiving results, handling disappointment, dealing with stress and supporting friends and loved ones.
Project manager Collette Ryan said: “HeadsUp wants to say to those young people who may be disappointed with their results that the Leaving Cert is not an end in itself. People can repeat a particular exam, they can try a different course, or they can take a year out and return to education at a later date. These are just some of the options.”