The Minister for Education, Ruari Quinn yesterday announced that the current Junior Certificate Programme will be phased out over eight years and will be replaced by a school-based model of continuous assessment.

Pupils currently in fifth class in primary school will be the first students not to sit the Junior Cert as we know it, as the new programme is due to begin in 2014.

Under the new programme, 40% of examination marks will be based on course-work and 60% based on a final written assessment.

Examination papers will be set by the State Examination Commission (SEC), but will be administered and corrected by teachers for the most part, although English, Irish and maths examination papers will be corrected by the SEC for the first couple of years.

The new programme will also allow schools to develop short courses of their own that are particularly relevant to their students and local communities.

Responding to the Minister's announcement, the Irish Second-level Students Union said it "warmly welcomes" the Junior Certificate reform, as learning outcomes rather than exam performance will become the main focus under the changes.

IVEA also welcomed the proposals, claiming it is "a vital step towards ensuring that our young people have the opportunity to acquire the skills and competences essential to making the most of their lives".

However, ASTI described the Minister's decision to do away with the "the credible, independent, objective and fair examination and certification system" as "deeply regrettable".

Concern was also expressed by the Teachers Union of Ireland, which claimed reform of the Junior Certificate may impact negatively on schools located in the communities worst affected by the recession.

Written by Donal Walsh

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