Our ongoing campaign around the criteria for the deferred sitting of Leaving Cert Exams was raised in the Dáil this week by Deputy Gary Gannon with Minister for Education, Deputy Norma Foley.
Earlier this year, Epilepsy Ireland and our colleagues in the Irish Epilepsy League met with both the Minister and the State Exams Commission separately to discuss our concerns and what we believe must be changed in advance of the Leaving Cert sitting of 2023.
Deferred sittings of the Leaving Cert were introduced in 2022 for the first time. While this was a very welcome development, there was a major caveat in the criteria that was announced – with distinction made between medical emergencies that happen before exams and those that happen during exams.
In an epilepsy context, applying the criteria as announced, this meant that a student who had a seizure before their exam could be eligible to apply for the deferred sitting, while a student who experienced a seizure during their exam, would not.
This is something we totally disagreed with and in practice, there were major issues with how the criteria were applied in last year’s siting.
All the above, and the entire history of this issue, can be read in greater detail by visiting the ‘Advocacy’ section of our website while you can watch the full debate between Deputy Gannon and Minister Foley in the video below.
We have also followed up directly with the SEC regarding this matter, and they have informed us that they intend on announcing the criteria to be used for 2023 in the coming weeks, and that they intend on meeting with us again in advance of the criteria being announced. An extract of the SEC’s correspondence to us is highlighted below:
The review process for 2023 is continuing and we have some further work to do on consultation and engagement with other stakeholders. Please be assured that the concerns discussed in our meeting of the 11th January 2023 are being given serious consideration and we have a particular focus on the situation for students with epilepsy as we work through the details of the scheme for this coming year.
We are working on the revised scheme for 2023 which we intend to publish in the coming weeks. While I cannot confirm a date at this time, I can advise that it has been our intention to engage with you again in advance of any announcement of the scheme to schools and candidates so you will hear from me again on this important matter.
We do hope that 2023 will spell the end of this issue once and for all for students with epilepsy and that our recommendations will be reflected in any new criteria. In the meantime, we will continue to use any further avenue available to us to continue to progress this issue. Furthermore, if you would like to add your voice to this campaign, visit the ‘Advocacy’ section of our website where you will find a template letter which can be used and adapted to send to your local TD or Senator.
As soon as we have any further information on this most important matter, we will update our website and social media channels.