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EDUCATION MINISTER NORMA Foley has confirmed that the Government will establish a non-statutory independent review of the Calculated Grades process.
Over 6,000 Leaving Certificate students received improved grades following a review of the system, which was carried out after errors were discovered in their original grades.
Earlier this month, Foley estimated that around 7,200 grades had been affected in total.
The first error was in one line of code programmed by private company Polymetrika. It affected the way in which students’ Junior Cycle grades were included in the calculation.
Speaking in the Dáil today, Foley announced that a full independent review of the process would now take place.
“The decision to adopt a decision a model of Calculated Grades by the Department was as a result of Covid-19 and the circumstances which prevailed at that time and prevented the State from holding Leaving Certificate examinations this year,” she said.
“The system of Calculated Grades is a complex and sophisticated system. It had to be developed from scratch, specifically for the Irish Leaving Certificate within an extremely tight time-frame in order for students to get their results in time.”
Foley outlined that the review will consider key aspects of the process, including the initial decision to adopt a Calculated Grades model, whether the process met objectives, how effective the process was and whether oversight of it was effective.
“Very importantly, I also want the review to include what lessons can be learned for the future. The full scope of the review will be set out very clearly in advance,” she added.
Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin welcomed the announcement, calling for the review to be led by a judge or senior counsel.
“The inquiry needs to determine who knew what and when, an examination of the processes, why mistakes were not found, and how we ended up in such a situation where two serious errors were discovered and disclosed in late September with grades having to be subsequently altered for students,” he said.
“The Calculated Grades fiasco has caused students and their parents’ needless anxiety and stress, and they deserve accountability and assurances that this will never happen again.”
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It’ll be like all other government reviews – outcome will be a bunch of recommendations without any accountability for the failures
@Gordon Walsh: And someone will make huge money from carrying out such review.
@Dave Barrett: Yes likely one of the well known consultants whose names are acronyms
A review seems like a reasonable idea. I do think we need to stop making out that every LC student this year has suffered more than any human in history, the language used is way over the top and is unhelpful. Many actually liked not having to do the LC – and who could blame them – and more people are in Third Level than ever before so while some have genuine reasons to feel aggrieved, most got what they wanted or better with the bonus of not having to the LC.
@Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: I feel the tactical repeat leaving certs got screwed – you know the ones who aim to repeat so they can drop certain subjects in favour of others that are easier to A1s in or get better bonus points.
I think we’d all be happy with a ‘simple sorry lads, but we messed up’ than a lengthy and costly review that will yield no meaningful results
Where did the legal advice for this omnishambles come from in the first place ffs.
The terms of reference for this review will be carefully crafted.
I hope there is a proper plan in place for 2021 leaving cert.Already these kids have been seriously disadvantaged missing three full months,sometimes being asked to leave the classroom because there are too many pupils,no parent teacher meetings,having free classes quite frequently,psychologically disadvantaged because they are not able to focus properly because there may or may not be a Leaving Cert exam.So Norma you better start talking about this now before there is another fiasco.
Review,commision.will take years.how long are them poor tuam babies left in the tank now since the government know about it
A shambles comittee investigating another shamble on tax payers money with no accountability on deadline or budget ceiling, give us shout I can do that
Will this included finding out how the contract was awarded?
Dog in pearls
Very suprised there is an independent review while there is ongoing legal action.
Another waste of time and taxpayers money. Calculated grade system was setup for failure and the result could never have pleased everyone… as a nation we would be better served just to move on and make sure LC 2021 goes ahead. Martin has a reputation of loving to commission a review ( see his time as Min of Health). Accounting firms will be falling over themselves to network for this work.
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