The Minister for Education and Skills, Mr. Joe McHugh, yesterday made an important announcement in relation to the extension of restrictions on schools and the holding of state examinations in 2020.
Schools will remain closed until Tuesday 5 May in line with Covid-19 restrictions.
Leaving Certificate
The minister stated that the 2020 Leaving cert examinations would take place in late July/early August. He stated the State Examinations Commission (SEC) would publish a revised timetable in early June. Schools will reopen for a two-week period for 6th Year students prior to the commencement of the exams. Dates for the completion of practical exams have been extended into July.
Junior Cycle
The minister announced that Junior Cycle exams will now take place in September. These will be school based examinations corrected by teachers.
The minister stated that he will consult with all relevant bodies (management organisations, trade unions, SEC etc.) in the coming days and weeks to provide further clarity on these decisions. He hoped that the announcement would provide some clarity for students and alleviate some of the anxiety and stress being experienced by students and their families arising from the uncertainty surrounding the holding of the exams.
This is undoubtedly a stressful time for leaving cert students in particular. The school will be in contact with the exam year students after the Easter break to support them. Students were set work by their teachers to be completed over the Easter break. In light of the minister’s announcement, the country’s national educational management bodies have recommended that exam year students take a break from their exam preparations for the remainder of the Easter break. Scoil Aireagail is recommending the same for its students.
We wish all in the Scoil Aireagail school community a safe and peaceful Easter.
