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ALMOST 119,000 NERVOUS students will be heading in to state examinations this morning.
Close to 58,000 of these are beginning the final leg of their secondary-level education as they sit either Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied, or LCVP exams.
Just under 61,000 are sitting the Junior Certificate.
Last year’s exams were marred by what the State Examination Commission (SEC) branded an “unacceptably high” number of errors on exam papers.
It prompted a review of how exam papers were prepared, resulting in some changes to the process.
Scrutiny
This includes scrutiny of the paper once it is near competition by an expert in the subject, but who has not been involved in setting the paper, in an attempt to weed out any errors.
This year also marks the competition of the transition to the Project Maths syllabi for Leaving Cert pupils, with all students at both levels sitting the same exam.
These changes were introduced over a number of years, and offers a bonus of 25 points for students who sit the Higher Level paper.
This has resulted in an average of 2,000 more pupils taking the examination each year since 2011.
Currently 17,065 are due to sit the Higher Level paper this year, but this is likely to fall as students can switch to the Ordinary Level paper on the day of the exam.
And let’s not forget students in Libya who also sit the Leaving Certificate exam, a system adopted by Tripoli’s International School of Martyrs in 1997.
However, given the unstable situation in the country, these students have been offered the chance to sit their exams in Malta since 2011 after the SEC found it not possible to arrange for exams to be held in Libya.
Ireland has, thankfully, been deemed safe enough to hold exams in, but students are still likely to be nervous.
“Perspective”
The President of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) Sally Maguire said students need to “remember to keep things in perspective”.
“You are sitting exams, and that is all they are; they do not define your value as a person,” she said, adding that students should try not to compare or over analyse any exam.
Focus on the next exam, rather than the one you have just completed.
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has wished all those sitting exams good luck, and has said that while they are an “important milestone in a young person’s life, they are not the only one”.
“There are a vast array of opportunities for education, training and to get new skills throughout their lives,” he noted.
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Wish I found something like that in my attic
A great museum well worth a visit.
Excellent, got to be one of his best that I have seen, that’s my opinion and taste.
Norway eh, not so long ago they were poor, now they have too much money to know what to do with and Van Goughs stuffed in the attic.
Paintings that is, Not the family.
good stuff
It’s beautiful
True, Declan. I’m not a huge fan of some of his most famous work but this one appeals to me greatly.
Are they sure it’s not fake? It’s not very good is it?
It’s an absolutely amazing painting, will see it later this year
Good for u . Hopefully we will all have time to devote to such activities – as they are as necessary as food itself .
” What is this life if full of care
we have not time to stand and stare ”
The original owner bought it ten years after it was supposedly painted. He says it was a forgery. I would tend to believe him. Why did he think that. He was a collector so he would have known what he had bought.
Looks like a kid painted that
moron
Hmm! I wonder why this wasn’t authenticated years ago. There are 50million+ reasons why this painting has been ” authenticated”. Seems a bit fishy to me.
The brush strokes look almost too van Gogh, and the palette is not quite right. But then, no one asked me. And I would authenticate mouse droppings for art if I got a share ins 50milllion windfall.
Thing is art is false economy but a very gpod false economy. Its almost celebrity orientated this goes from 50 euro up to 50 million cos of his name. Could not sell a painting when alive. I see amaxing talent in local artists. Had their paintings had a famous name attached then it goes up to stupid money.
Sure id take 50m for it but looking at it honestly id offer 100 eurp for it max to have it over fireplace
And may i ask how you came to this conclusion without seeing the work?
You may. I have an iMac large screen computer with a zoom. Had a good look and made a general observation. Not a conclusion as I would have to be an ” expert” for that with a 50million motive, not just a run of the mill BFA.
Point taken
Oh, you zoomed in with your iMac? Please tell me more about how you spent over a thousand on a computer that is really worth half that, while you discuss the price you feel this painting should be.
€1300 actually.
have your say