Cold classrooms, absent teachers and lost time are just some of the challenges that Leaving Certs have had to deal with in their all-important final year.
As mock exams approach, one Leaving Cert pupil in Donegal has taken their plea for a hybrid option directly to the Minister for Education.
Ben Callaghan, Head Boy of St.Columba’s College in Stranorlar, wrote to Minister Norma Foley this week asking her to hear the voices of students – and of future voters.
The State Exams Commission has said it will not be possible to run a hybrid model for this year’s Leaving Cert, despite calls from National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) to give students a choice of exams and accredited grades.
Ben, who is 18 years old, told Minister Foley that he and his peers have missed 97 days of in person learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “This is without the possibility of, if a person caught Covid-19, which many pupils did and have, including another 10 days,” he said.
He highlighted the many obstacles to learning that students are currently facing.
“In our classrooms, with temperatures of 2-5 degrees at this moment of the year, the classroom is a horrible environment to be participating in, impacting our learning negatively. The freezing cold temperatures as well as at least 5 minutes of lost time each class cleaning our areas, school life has changed.
“Along with over 120,000 cases of this deadly disease over the course of 8 days, all students, myself included, are worried about our education as well as our health.
“Another huge factor is the chance of teachers being off due to the virus, also impacting our learning negatively. I know several teachers over the county that refuse to come in due to the workplace environment, which is understandable but not fair for us the impacted students. Two basic, essential needs for all age demographics, especially in a developed country like Ireland.”
Ben’s letter asks the Minister to note the changes that have been made in schools, and give students help.
“All I want and ask for is to be heard, not just for myself , but for the students who find it hard to voice, express and maintain their opinions in this cruel new world at which we face as a nation,” he said.
“As I try to reiterate and sum up my concerns as a young member of Irish society, is that all Leaving Certificate students deserve the chance and opportunity to receive the choice for accredited grades like our previous effected Leaving certificate peers (2020 year group and 2021 year group).
“All we want is clarity, clarity to the biggest moment of our young lives. I hope you understand the young Irish citizen and future voters point of view.”
