Fresh talks aimed at resolving a row over plans for the Leaving Cert exams are due to begin on Friday between the Minister for Education and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI). However, late on Thursday the ASTI accepted an invitation to new talks with Minister for Education Norma Foley. ASTI general secretary Kieran Christie said current plans were unacceptable on the basis that calculated grades would become a “dominant option” and the Leaving Cert exams would end up “filling in assessment gaps”. Students would then have the choice to go on and complete the regular Leaving Cert exams in June. However, he said process that was being developed in a manner that would see the Leaving Cert “relegated to a secondary position” with calculated grades the “premier option”.

Source: The Irish Times February 11, 2021 18:12 UTC