Welcome for Leaving Certificate Irish results
August 16, 2012
Not only was there an increase in the numbers sitting Higher level Irish in this year’s Leaving Certificate but there was also an increase in the number of A grades awarded to students.
56,000 students will receive their Leaving Certificate results across the country today and there was a substantial 35% increase in the number of students who undertook the maths paper at higher level.
The Department of Education and Skills also announced that there was an 11% increase in the number of students taking the higher level Irish paper.Speaking today Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn TD said that changes to the oral Irish examination were the main factor in the higher demand for the higher level paper.
According to statistics issued by the State Examinations Commission today, 42,965 students sat an Irish language paper in this year’s exams. Of them 15,937 took the higher level paper with 7.3% of those candidates receiving A1 grades and 11.3% receiving B1 grades.
17.4% of students received an A grade at higher level this year in comparison to 13.9% who received top marks last year.
22,875 students took the paper at ordinary level and 74.2% of these candidates achieved A, B or C grades. Just over 4,000 students took sat the exam at foundation level.
The Minister said that there had been a move away from an emphasis on grammar and increased emphasis on spoken Irish in the new Leaving Certificate examination.
The format for the new oral Irish examination is a joint exam for those sitting higher and ordinary level exams which is worth 40% of the overall mark.
The oral examination itself is made up of four sections and students are awarded marks for the introduction; poetry recitation; an explanation of a series of pictures and conversation with the examiner.
However some groups have expressed concern that the subject is being overly simplified at Leaving Certificate level in a manner which is unchallenging for students attending Irish medium schools in Gaeltacht regions and in Gaelscoileanna.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
