Sir, Recent revelations regarding missing Leaving Cert Art work have caused grave concern about the credibility of the examination system.
The Minister for Education, Ms Bhreathnach, has responded rapidly through the Price Waterhouse inquiry and has also responded to the finding of Leaving Cert engineering practical work by a Roscommon roadside. ,It would certainly appear that the Minister and her team are anxious to preserve the perception of the integrity of the exam system.
This perception is contradicted by the introduction of new practice this year in the marking of Leaving Cert Engineering and Construction Studies Projects which my union considers to be careless, irresponsible and casual as opposed to the present satisfactory system.
Sophisticated projects in working order complete with batteries etc., are to be left in schools over the summer months to await marking by a visiting examiner. The safety, security and working order of these projects during this period cannot be even reasonably certain, yet they account for 25 per cent of the marks awarded to that subject. The Minister and her Department must realise that there is more to protecting the integrity of the examination system than good public relations there is the responsible management of examination material.
The plan for abandoning examination material in insecure empty classrooms is a "devil may care examinations Home Alone" policy. It is risky in the extreme and is literally asking for trouble. It is not acceptable to leave Leaving Cert essays sitting in empty rooms in empty schools awaiting an examiner for the entire duration of the summer recess. Neither is it acceptable in the case of practical subjects. This laid back approach is an insult to teachers, students and parents. No amount of political crocodile tears will wash away the injury to students should something go wrong, especially when it is reasonable to predict in advance that something will.
Young people, for better or worse, build much of their hopes, dreams and aspirations on the examinations system they deserve better than this. Yours, etc., President, Teachers' Union of Ireland, Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6.