Danny Healy-Rae urges choice for Kerry students on exams
Danny Healy-Rae urged the minister to give students in Kerry a choice this year between sitting exams and receiving predicted grades. He said pupils and teachers have lost time to Covid and argued those students deserve the chance to sit the exam.
Request to the minister
Danny Healy-Rae said he was calling on behalf of many students in Kerry and asked the minister to give them a choice this year. He recalled making the same request in 2020 to a minister and said he believed he was the first to ask for that option.
Impact of Covid on schooling
He emphasised that the Covid virus has not finished and that teachers and pupils could miss more time. He noted that the affected students missed three months last year and also lost time in the autumn.
Exams versus predicted grades
He argued that these students did not sit the junior set and that predicted grades should not be the only route – they should be allowed to sit the exam. He said they have been through a very tough time and need a fair opportunity to take the exam.
Final appeal and thanks
He closed by renewing his plea to the minister to grant the choice and thanked the minister and those watching. His appeal was framed as an urgent request to give vulnerable students an opportunity after disrupted schooling.
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Minister, I'm calling you on behalf of the many students in Kerry that have the phone written, asking that they be given a choice this year. Back in 2020 I asked Joe McHugh, Minister McHugh, the very same thing. And he reciprocated, that's what he did. I believe I was the first to ask to give them a choice. The Covid test, the Covid virus isn't finished yet. And teachers could miss more time. Teachers, pupils could miss more time. These set of students missed three months last year and they missed time in the fall of the year and teachers and pupils were missing. So I'm asking you please, Minister, give them a choice this year because they've been through a very tough time. And these students, remember, didn't sit the junior set. And they need to be given a choice now. You know, predicted grades are to sit the exam because they've been through a very tough time and they need a chance, Minister. And please give it to them. Thank you very much, but thank you very much for watching. What's up?
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