The Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, is to hand over responsibility for all State exams, including this year's Leaving Certificate, to a new statutory body separate from the Department of Education, writes Emmet Oliver, Education Correspondent.
The new body, the State Examinations Commission, is being set up to ease the administrative burden on the Department, which has been responsible for the the system since the foundation of the State.
The development involves some political risk for the Minister because similar moves in Britain proved to be disastrous.
Problems with the marking of A-level papers by an outside body led to the resignation of the British education secretary, Ms Estelle Morris, in October.
However, Mr Dempsey yesterday asked five respected and experienced figures to make up the board of the new organisation; Mr Martin Newell, the secretary of the CAO, is one. The Department is hopeful that the new organisation will be able to maintain the generally positive reputation of the Republic's exam system.
Up to 130,000 students are expected to take this year's Leaving and Junior Certificate exams, and Mr Dempsey said the new organisation would have "full operational responsibility" for these exams.It is understood the new body will hire all supervisors and examiners for this year's exams and also be responsible for the content and layout of papers.
The new body is also expected to be responsible for the correction of papers during the summer.
A report two years ago by a retired civil servant, Mr Sean Cromien, recommended such a move because the exam process was draining the Department's resources and staff.
It pointed out that many countries had hived off their exam operations to outside agencies and in some cases private companies. However, it is understood this option was rejected recently by the Department of Education. Each year the Department administers over 300 individual tests.
Mr Dempsey said the new board would hold office for three years. "The skills and expertise of these board members will ensure that the Irish examination system continues to be held in the highest esteem at home and abroad. Our system is in the front rank internationally in terms of its integrity and openness. We must build on this going forward," he said.
The five appointed as State Exams Commissioners yesterday were: Mr Jimmy Farrelly, chairman (former secretary-general of the Department of the Environment and Local Government); Ms Mary Bridget O'Hara, deputy chairwoman (former post-primary school principal); Mr Martin Newell (secretary of the CAO); Mr Barry O'Brien (CEO, Co Cork VEC); and Ms Dympna Glendenning (barrister, author and former primary school principal)