Madam, - I'd like to congratulate Breda O'Brien (Opinion & Analysis, April 26th) on her piece about the problems facing home-educated students doing the Leaving Cert. It seems mad that when the Government is trying to encourage people to get a good education, they're putting such obstacles in the way of these committed and motivated students. These obstacles have serious implications for home-educated students going on to third level and are therefore discriminatory. - Is mise,
TRACY CULLETON,
Cloughjordan,
Co Tipperary.
Madam, - I take issue with Brenda O'Brien's suggestion that homeschooled students be given special concessions in the coursework element of the Leaving Certificate.
While our exam system is far from perfect, it is fair and objective. As a mother of a Leaving Cert student, one of the only consolations I can offer my daughter at this stressful time is that at least everyone is treated the same, and that if she works hard she has just as much a chance as anyone else to do well. Procedures connected with continuous assessment are linked to the school system for the obvious reason that this ensures fair and objective supervision and monitoring of work. Home-schoolers and their parents opt out of the school system, and have to accept that one of the consequences of their decision is that they don't have access to this part of the assessment procedure.
Until such time as a fair and objective method of the monitoring of assessment can be drawn up that deals with all students equally, there is little that can be done. Doing "spot checks" on home-schooled students is treating them differently to every other student, and undermines the integrity of the examination system. - Yours, etc,
GRÁINNE DUGGAN,
Viewmount,
Waterford.