Rose Conway-Walsh challenges third level exam plans amid COVID
Rose Conway-Walsh raised concerns about third level exam arrangements as COVID infections escalated, arguing that deferring exams is 'deplorable' and that most assessments should be moved online. She warned of health and safety risks for students and staff and of unfair financial and emotional costs for those required to self-isolate.
Concerns about exam halls
Rose Conway-Walsh highlighted the use of mass exam halls at normal capacity for end-of-year semester exams and said many students and staff have legitimate health and safety concerns for themselves and for vulnerable family members. She noted that some students are COVID positive or close contacts and face movement restrictions or must self-isolate.
Opposition to deferring assessments
She described deferring exams and assessment as a deplorable option, citing the anxiety and stress caused by deferring exams and the financial implications in terms of additional costs and loss of income as grossly unfair. She said alternative arrangements have been called for since early November.
Call for online assessments
She asked for a clear reason why most assessments and exams cannot be done online to enable students to comply with public health guidance and to ensure that they can have a family Christmas.
Government reply on capacity and testing
In response, the minister said there were no plans to defer the end of term exams, noted that incidence among the age group of 24 was now falling slightly, and clarified that the 50% indoor capacity restriction does not apply to exam halls. The minister added that free antigen testing had been introduced in third level colleges and could be beneficial for students before social activities and before taking exams.
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The number of people getting infected by COVID escalates. We see the chaos around third level exams and assessments unfolding. Mass exam halls at normal capacity are being used to host the end of year semester exams. Many students and staff have legitimate health and safety concerns for themselves and for vulnerable family members. Others are COVID positive or close contacts and have their movements restricted or have to self-isolate. Deferring exams and assessment is a deplorable option. Aside from the anxiety and stress caused by deferring exams, the financial implications in terms of additional costs and loss of income is grossly unfair. We have been calling for alternative arrangements to be put in place since early November. Can you give me a clear reason as to why most assessments and exams cannot be done online to enable students to comply with public health guidance and to ensure that they can have a family Christmas too? Thank you, Deputy. There are no plans to defer the end of term exams. It is encouraging that the incidence of the virus among the age group of age 24 is now falling, albeit slightly, but it is now falling. And the 50% indoor capacity restriction does not apply to exam halls. One thing that we have done is introduce free antigen testing in third level colleges. And I think that can be very beneficial for students taking that antigen test before they engage in social activities, but also before taking exams. Thank you, Deputy Martin. Thank you, Dr. Mark. You see me? ... We are onorg聊 of time, everybody. …
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