A major poll on the exam indicates a lack of enthusiasm, writes Sean Flynn, Education Editor
The case for a radical overhaul of the Leaving Cert has been boosted by the biggest-ever online poll of students, parents and teachers.
The poll has been conducted by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) which advises the Minister for Education on these matters. Over 800 have responded to the poll, 30 per cent of them students and 28 per cent teachers.
The results confirm that the Leaving Cert is an unloved exam despite its towering presence in Irish education. There is much enthusiasm for many of the ideas floated by the NCCA in a discussion paper earlier this year. The exam, say most respondents, needs to be reshaped. It needs to move away from an emphasis on regurgitating material. It needs to be more creative and more relevant.
Some 62 per cent of those polled believe the senior cycle (from Junior Cert on) is unduly dominated by the Leaving Cert.
There is much support for the more flexible approach pioneered in Transition Year and in the Leaving Cert Applied course. Many would like to see some features from these courses - especially the onus it places on personal initiative - integrated into the ordinary Leaving Cert exam.
The exam is roundly condemned. Less than a third believe it promotes the personal development of students. Only 22 per cent say good scores in the exam "are a good predictor of ability to succeed in the workplace".
It is no consolation to this year's students, but the debate on the future of the exam is certain to gather steam.
The Minister, Mr Dempsey, has signalled his support for radical reform of the Leaving Cert exam with a greater emphasis on continuous assessment and project work
In a major policy speech yesterday, he was strongly critical of the current exam and hinted at radical change. The Leaving Cert, he said, was designed to meet the needs of students from the last century. "Why do we persist in putting students through an examination process that has changed little in 20, even 30, years?" he asked.
The Minister gave no details of his plans for an overhaul of the exam, but it is known that he is keen on the greater use of continuous assessment and project and assignment work.
Despite the criticism, the challenge of formulating an alternative is not easy. As over 80 per cent in the NCCA poll acknowledge, the exam enjoys a high level of public support. Broadly, it is trusted by parents and by employers.
The challenge facing the Minister is to change the exam and retain this public trust in any new system.