Proposals for replacing the Junior Certificate could result in children sitting fewer exams and being able to use roles in school musicals or other activities to count towards their qualification.

The new plans may come into force as soon as 2014 if they are given the go-ahead by Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn, with the first students to be examined for the revised qualification in 2017.

Teacher trade unions and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) have approved the revisions, which, if implemented, will signal a move away from largely basing qualifications on exams.

Students will take between six and eight subjects and 40 per cent of their marks will be collected through project work and portfolios, with the remainder accrued by sitting tests.

President of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland Brendan Broderick said earlier this month that the implementation of any Junior Certificate reforms must be carefully considered and not brought in simply to cut costs.

Written by Donal Walsh

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