Renewed calls to pause changes to Leaving Certificate

There have been renewed calls to pause changes to the Leaving Certificate curriculum, with a Cork principal saying they will compromise the integrity of the exams and lead to inequity between students in different types of schools.

From September 2025 to 2029, new and revised Leaving Cert subject specifications will be introduced as part of the senior cycle redevelopment programme, including a new additional assessment component (AAC) — a project worth a minimum 40% of students’ overall Leaving Cert grade.

A new RedC/Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland survey shows that nationally, 88% of all teachers surveyed said the new Leaving Cert AACs will create difficulties in relation to the authentication of students’ work, 82% said AACs will increase students’ workload, and 70% said AACs will increase stress among students.

Teachers deem a multitude of resources necessary to support teachers and schools before introducing AACs: Some 82% believe guidance on AI is necessary, 78% believe guidance on authentication of students’ course work is necessary, and 74% said smaller class sizes are necessary.

Aaron Wolfe, ASTI member and principal of Coláiste Éamann Rís, told The Echo: “If the State examination commission want students to complete 40% of their exams in advance, they must fund the technology.

“We don’t have the IT connection, the wifi capabilities, or even the devices in our school — the Government did invest in IT after covid, but it didn’t even scratch the surface. 

“There’s a big divide between private and public schools, and even between public DEIS [delivering opportunity In schools] and non-DEIS schools.

“I’m a big believer that AI is here to stay and we’ve got to work with it, but when it comes to project work, there’s no way to make sure the projects are completed by a student rather than AI at the moment. 

“The Leaving Cert is recognised throughout the world as a fair exam, we know that it’s the students’ own work.

“We encountered problems like this when the internet first started becoming available and we overcame them, so we will overcome this, but maybe we need to wait until we have solutions before changing our education system so drastically.

“They should at least first review whether the junior cycle reforms were a success — I think they don’t want to review this because they know what the review would tell them, teachers and parents all agree the new system is not as robust as the old one was.”