‘Don’t take away from their self-confidence’: TD’s wise words for exam parents

"One exam or a low mark won’t take away their dreams and talent."

With the Junior and Leaving Cert a little over a month away, many youngsters will be feeling the pressure to achieve big results. Now one Independent TD has called on parents not to be too hard on their kids over their exams. Michael Collins, who represents the Cork South-West constituency, said that we should remember that our school results don't have to define us.

"I know you are all really anxious for your child to do well," a note posted on the TD's office door reads. "But please, do remember, amongst the students who will be sitting for exams there is an artist who doesn’t need to understand Math. "There is an entrepreneur, who doesn’t care about History of English literature. "There is a musician, whose Chemistry marks won’t matter. There’s an athlete, whose physical fitness is more important than Physics. "If your child does get top marks, that’s great! But if he or she doesn’t, please don’t take away from their self-confidence and dignity from them. "Tell them it’s OK, it’s just an exam! They are cut out for much bigger things in life. Tell them, no matter what they score, you love them and will not judge them. "Please do this, and when you do, watch your children conquer the world. One exam or a low mark won’t take away their dreams and talent. "And please, do not think that doctors and engineers are the only happy people in the world."

This year's Leaving Cert will be harder on some students than it has ever been thanks to an unforeseen timetable clash. A new exam subject, Politics, will clash with Design and Communication Graphics. Students who studied both subjects will have to sit their Politics exam in a special evening sitting. It means a number of students will have to sit three exams over a nine-hour period on one day.