TL;DR

We demand answers on the 2020 state exams and are sick of being in the dark.

We ask for improved communication from education minister Joe McHugh, and more frequent communication.

We refuse to sit an exam in June as it is unsafe and puts loved ones at risk.

We want solutions to the unfair playing field caused by cancelling leaving certificate oral and practical exams.

We want to make it explicitly clear that we are not proposing any specific solution. There are petitions for that already. We are simply demanding that a solution is made.

We implore the government to search for clarity on behalf of Irish students.

Background:

This is a petition created by six leaving certificate students from across the country demanding clarification on the 2020 leaving and junior certificates. With the first of the written exams (LCVP) starting on May 6th, it is urgent that we receive answers now rather than later. We know that the exams can’t realistically or safely go ahead in June and want the government to make a decision. We are quite frankly, sick and tired of their lack of concrete answers. We understand that the COVID crisis is ever evolving and changing each day, however, this does not excuse the government’s neglection of matters concerning the state exams.



Communication:

We have received limited statements from the government aside from Leo Varadkar’s infamous “by hook or by crook” statement which proved to be nothing more than false promises as the ISSU had not been sent an official notice to confirm such a statement. Other countries such as France and England have given their students answers. Even countries who do not have the virus as severe as Ireland such as Malta have made clear cut decisions already. If these countries can come up with solutions, so can Ireland.



June 3rd is not Feasible:

Firstly, we ask you to stop considering June 3rd as a reasonable option. You have already announced that the lockdown will likely persist through to September. Holding exams with hundreds of students in one building would be contradictory and quite frankly, hypocritical. According to your previous statements along with statements from Dr Cillian De Gascun about the lockdown lasting until September, it does not seem safe or reasonable to put the exams in June as we will be putting ourselves, and our loved ones at risk. There is enough uncertainty surrounding this situation. Please do not add to it with false promises.



Mental Health:

Because of this uncertainty, students have been under extreme levels of stress and anxiety as we do not know when or even if our exams will be going ahead. This is a difficult time for students, especially those of us who already suffer from poor mental health to begin with. Studying at home is also a key issue for students as many do not have the facilities to do so. This may be due to poorer socio-economic backgrounds or simply being crowded by younger siblings and other family members who make it difficult to study in peace. A brief online search will tell you that many students are beginning to lose motivation due to these factors. As minister McHugh has already pointed out, the leaving cert is of course stressful every year, however, this is much different. At least in previous years, students knew what they were facing and when they were facing it. We know no such comforts. We need answers and demand that communication be improved. We want to know the research that has been done so far and reasons for certain proposals being dismissed. Cultural acceptance is not a valid excuse and will not be considered as such.



The Question of Exam Integrity:

Exam integrity has also been completely compromised this year. Students who were meant to be doing orals and practicals are now at a completely unfair advantage to those who may be language exempt such as people with dyslexia or students born in other countries who may have earned an exemption from languages that way. We are already on an unfair playing field. The ‘cultural acceptance’ has already been broken as many past and future leaving cert students believe it to be unfair, this no longer can have any weight in the decision making for exams. Clarity for students, along with fast decision making needs to come before tradition. Hearing about ‘cultural acceptance’ as a reason for certain proposals not being considered has done nothing but outrage students even further. Instead of shutting down ideas, we want to hear proposals. We need solutions, not problems.



What We Want:

We are not proposing a specific solution. There are petitions and surveys already undertaken that illustrate what students want. We know that you have seen them and expect that you take them into consideration when coming up with a solution. We are not here to tell you how to do your jobs but are however, asking you to do your jobs. We understand that this is a stressful time for the department and that you are under a lot of strain, however we ask that the state exams will take your priority for the minute. A clear cut decision will take strain off the government and will allow you to focus attention elsewhere. We need answers, now.