Around 30,000 secondary school teachers in Ireland are set to protest today in response to incoming changes to the Leaving Cert exam system
The protest is organised by the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI), and aims to raise awareness about the potential changes.
Under the new proposals, students could be graded based on a combination of one written exam and a project which they can complete in their own time.
Currently, most Leaving Cert subjects require students to sit multiple types of exams, including written, practical, oral, and listening assessments.
Teachers are concerned that these changes, if brought in, could have a lasting impact on students and their future opportunities.
In an interview on Newstalk, ASTI President, Donal Cremin explained that the protest is not a strike, it’s an effort to spark a conversation about the proposed changes.
“This is not a strike,” Cremin said. “It’s a protest to bring attention to an issue that will affect the young people of Ireland for the next 30 years.”
He believes that parents need to be aware of the upcoming changes and their potential consequences for their children’s education and career prospects.
One of the key concerns raised by teachers is the inclusion of project work as a significant component of the assessment process.
Cremin spoke of the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) sources and the potential for this to influence project work, noting that students could rely on AI tools to complete assignments.
“AI is developing so fast that it can be influential in any type of project work,” he warned.
Cremin also pointed out that practical exams, which are currently carried out in schools, offer a more reliable form of assessment.
“Practical exams are absolutely different—they are a direct form of assessment, and they actually get things right,” he said.
Another major concern among teachers is the lack of training for educators on the new system.
According to Cremin, the changes are being implemented too quickly, leaving teachers with no time and resources to fully prepare for the changes.
“We need quality training for our teachers,” Cremin stressed. “We need to slow down the process because it’s going too fast and it’s not giving everyone the opportunity to get fully trained up.”
He then touched on the importance of ensuring fairness for all students, and said that teachers are under increasing pressure as they struggle to keep up with the pace of change.
“Teachers are under extreme work pressure at the moment,” Cremin said. “They don’t like being left in the lurch with minimal training, especially when they’re expected to be fully up to speed in just one or two days.”
Cremin warned against making drastic changes to the Irish education system, describing it as a “gold standard” that has been successful for many years.
“We need to be careful with radical reforms,” he warned. “The Irish education system is highly regarded, and we should think very carefully before making major changes.”
The protest is the latest in a series of actions by teachers and unions urging policymakers to reconsider the proposed changes to the Leaving Cert exam system.
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