Sir, - Does Fine Gael's spokesman for education, Mr Richard Bruton, honestly believe his own statement when he says that the marks for the Junior Certificate examination "will determine a person's career" (Irish Times, June 14th).
It would be interesting to note Mr Bruton's own marks at his Junior Cert equivalent exam and assess to what extent exactly they determined his own career. Has he done himself justice or does he feel that his career was ruined at the age of 15 by the results of this exam?
The Junior Cert may be important, but could never be said to be a specific determinant of one's entire life. Perhaps Mr Bruton should refrain from party political sniping before the 15- and 16-year-olds of the nation begin to believe they may have ruined their job prospects in one minor and ultimately insignificant exam. - Yours, etc.
Eliza Gaffney, Fitzwilliam Street, Belfast 9.