Quinn set to back 'radical' plan for new Junior Cert [IrishTimes]
- Published: 26 September 2011
PROPOSALS TO change how the Junior Cert is assessed – billed as a “radical departure” for Irish education – are set to be backed by Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn.
Under the plan, the written Junior Cert exam in June will account for only 60 per cent of the marks. The remaining 40 per cent will be allocated to portfolio work over the entire three years of the Junior Cert cycle.
In the most controversial proposed change, this portfolio work will be assessed in the student’s own school, although samples of the corrected projects will be checked by the State Exams Commission.
The written exams will also change radically. With the exception of Irish, English and maths, all subjects will be examined at a common level. Exams will be shorter (90 to 180 minutes) and students will take a maximum of eight subjects. At present, it is not unusual for students to take 12 subjects or more.
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