Paul Murphy urges moratorium on AI use in the Leaving Cert
Paul Murphy criticised the government's plan to allow AI use in the Leaving Cert and called for a 12-month moratorium. He warned that permitting AI in additional assessment components — some worth at least 40% of marks — would advantage wealthier students and harm under-resourced schools.
Paul Murphy said the government is "drunk on the propaganda of big tech in relation to AI" and argued that forcing AI into the Leaving Cert is a "crazy plan". He asked the Taoiseach to intervene and impose at the very least a 12-month moratorium to keep AI out of the Leaving Cert.
He warned that allowing AI in additional assessment components will give a massive advantage to students from better-off backgrounds who can pay for more advanced AI programmes. He also highlighted practical access issues - additional assessment in science subjects requires access to labs, which fee-paying private schools might manage but struggling "desk schools" may not, risking deepening educational inequality.
Paul Murphy said teachers are so worried about the unfairness of the plan that they are willing to go on strike over it. He cited a biology teacher who told the ASDI conference that desk schools "will be wiped out," underlining the level of concern among educators.
He noted that while the State's Examination Commission is working on general and subject-specific documentation, current AI guidance being finalised does not apply to assessment for the purpose of certification by the State's Examination Commission, the junior certificate or the Leaving Certificate. He pointed to further work being undertaken by the State's Examination Commission on assessment rules.
Paul Murphy referenced the Department of Education, with the support of IDA, developing guidance on AI in teaching and learning, and said that information for schools can be found on the IDA Technology in Education website. He also observed that young people at events like the Young Scientists are already engaging with AI projects and appear ahead of policymakers in how they perceive and handle AI.
Primary objection
Paul Murphy said the government is "drunk on the propaganda of big tech in relation to AI" and argued that forcing AI into the Leaving Cert is a "crazy plan". He asked the Taoiseach to intervene and impose at the very least a 12-month moratorium to keep AI out of the Leaving Cert.
Inequality and access
He warned that allowing AI in additional assessment components will give a massive advantage to students from better-off backgrounds who can pay for more advanced AI programmes. He also highlighted practical access issues - additional assessment in science subjects requires access to labs, which fee-paying private schools might manage but struggling "desk schools" may not, risking deepening educational inequality.
Teachers and industrial action
Paul Murphy said teachers are so worried about the unfairness of the plan that they are willing to go on strike over it. He cited a biology teacher who told the ASDI conference that desk schools "will be wiped out," underlining the level of concern among educators.
Assessment, certification and guidance
He noted that while the State's Examination Commission is working on general and subject-specific documentation, current AI guidance being finalised does not apply to assessment for the purpose of certification by the State's Examination Commission, the junior certificate or the Leaving Certificate. He pointed to further work being undertaken by the State's Examination Commission on assessment rules.
Department guidance and student perspective
Paul Murphy referenced the Department of Education, with the support of IDA, developing guidance on AI in teaching and learning, and said that information for schools can be found on the IDA Technology in Education website. He also observed that young people at events like the Young Scientists are already engaging with AI projects and appear ahead of policymakers in how they perceive and handle AI.
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Transcript
I think your government is drunk on the propaganda of big tech in relation to AI. It is so drunk that you are trying to force AI into the Leaving Cert. From September, students will be allowed to use AI in additional assessment components, which will be worth at least 40% of marks in many subjects. Now, it's meant to be cited in the paper that here we used AI, but this will give a massive advantage to students from better-off backgrounds who will be able to pay for more advanced AI programmes to give them answers without them being detected and without them being cited. Additional assessment in science subjects will require access to labs. Fee-paying private schools might be able to manage that, but desk schools that can barely keep the lights on will not. A biology teacher told the ASDI conference that desk schools will be wiped out. Teachers are so worried about how unfair this is going to be that they are willing to go on strike over it. Teasheak, will you intervene and at the very least impose a 12-month moratorium on this crazy plan so we can keep AI out of the Leaving Cert? On education, again, the Department of Education with the support of IDA, the support service for teachers and school leavers, is currently developing guidance on the use of AI in teaching and learning. And this guidance will be published and circulated to schools shortly. Currently, information for schools on AI in education can be found on the IDA Technology in Education website. And I would make the point, I was at the Young Scientists at the beginning of January. Many of the projects submitted, many of the young people, it was on the subject of AI. Like, young people are ahead of this place, as far as I can see so far, in terms of where they see and perceive AI, and they're dealing with it. And I think we have to put the student first in all of our considerations on this. And in terms of senior cycle redevelopment, the State's Examination Commission, the AI guidance currently being finalised does not apply to assessment for the purpose of certification by the State Examination Commission, the junior certificate or the Leaving Certificate. But there will be, and there is further work being undertaken by the State's Examination, in terms of general and subject-specific documentation. Sorry, colleges.