Proposals to reform secondary education are likely to lead to Junior Certificate candidates taking significantly fewer exams.

According to the Irish Independent, plans to be announced later this month will call for a reworking of the Junior Cycle that will see increased use of coursework-based assessments.

Some commentators have suggested that Education Minister Ruairi Quinn will cut the number of subjects that include exams to seven, although he could opt for a more radical plan that would see only core subjects such as English and Maths assessed in this way.

It is widely agreed that students are currently suffering from "curriculum overload", as they sit exams in up to 12 subjects, the newspaper stated.

Any reforms to the Junior Cycle are likely to be implemented for the start of the 2012-13 school year, meaning pupils currently in fifth year in primary school would be the first to be affected.

Recently, the publication offered several tips for pupils sitting exams, suggesting that preparation and good time management will be the key to success.

Written by Donal Walsh
 

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