A plan to hold a second set of Leaving Cert exams for students affected by coronavirus is under consideration by education authorities. A spokesman for Minister for Education Norma Foley said it remained her “firm intention” to hold a traditional Leaving Cert next June. However, pressure is growing on Ms Foley from Government backbenchers and students to offer Leaving Cert students the option of predicted grades or sitting written exams. The Irish Second Level Students Union also called for an alternative to the Leaving Cert to be offered. The department’s priority is to return special needs students in secondary schools – possibly towards the end of January – followed by sixth-year students and others in February.

Source: The Irish Times January 16, 2021 01:00 UTC