Education Minister to update Cabinet on major Leaving Cert changes

Ellen O'Donoghue

Education Minister Helen McEntee will update Cabinet this morning on starting major changes to the Leaving Certificate.

The significant reforms from the next academic year will see 40 per cent of marks in all subjects given for practical exams or end of year projects.

The change is a bid to relieve some of the pressure from the final exams students face, but it has proved controversial and divisive.

The aim is that students do not face just one final exam but have it spread out; however, teaching unions feel the plans are rushed and flawed.

In a bid to ease some of their concerns, the Government has secured a package for teaching unions which includes changes to when teachers can secure permanent contracts, reconfiguring Croke Park deal hours and working groups on topics like AI, Newstalk reported.

The TUI is urging its members to back the deal, while the ASTI will ballot members on the agreement and potential strike action if it is rejected.

Meanwhile, the Irish Times reported on Tuesday morning that teachers will not get a planned five per cent pay increase if the reforms are blocked.