Coláiste Update on Junior Cycle Arrangements

Dear Parent,

You will be aware that the State Exams Commission, in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills, notified all schools that the Junior Certificate /Junior Cycle examinations will not now take place in June. Instead they have proposed that the State Exams Commission will send exams paper to schools and students will sit the exams in September. The proposal was that these exams would not be state certified.

You will also be aware that there has been considerable discussion in the media about the possibility of staging some form of Junior Certificate /Junior Cycle assessment at the end of May. Coláiste Mhuire, through CETB, have been in contact with the State Exams Commission and the Department of Education and Skills seeking further clarification on this possibility. The Department of Education and Skills have informed us that negotiations are ongoing at national level with regard to this. The Department of Education and Skills have also asked that schools make no local decisions pending the outcome of these talks.

As soon as I have further information on this, I will be in contact with you. In the meantime, I would urge all 3rd year students to engage as fully as possible with their teachers and to continue with their school work as much as is possible. In this regard, all of our teachers are doing their utmost to use the tools at their disposal to ensure all online tuition is accessible to all students. As outlined in previous correspondence, a number of factors must be taken into account by each teacher when connecting with class groups online. The mode of online connection that may suit some household may not be possible to access in other households. Your ongoing support and understanding is very much appreciated.

Kind regards,

Donal O’Sullivan (Principal)