Mattie McGrath urges predictive grades and clarity for students
Mattie McGrath urged the minister to reintroduce predictive grades for students affected by COVID disruption and called for re-examination to resolve grading concerns. He demanded clarity and a clear roadmap for students, parents and school communities, saying support is needed urgently.
Appeal to reinstate predictive grades
McGrath noted that predictive grades were operated last year and asked the minister and officials to operate them again this year to help students whose schooling has been disrupted.
Concerns about exams and grading
He said students who received high marks last time should be examined again to "tidy that up", arguing re-examination is necessary to ensure fair outcomes for future careers.
Impact on students and families
McGrath described two years without proper schooling or normal enjoyment because of COVID, and relayed heart-rendering emails from students, parents and guardians about the emotional toll on young people.
Call for clarity and support for school communities
He said the whole school community - Boards of Management, parents' councils, teachers and others - need a clear indication of a roadmap and immediate support from the Department.
Personal plea and endorsement of the minister
While expressing support for the minister in the post and acknowledging the difficult start, McGrath made a personal, urgent plea for understanding and care for students' futures.
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Nicola, I too, Minister, am pleading with you and your Department of Officials. I know you have had a tough time and the baptism of fire for you and I wish you well in the post and I support you, but look, the students have had no general research, they have had no proper schooling for the last two years and they have had an awful time. They couldn't have fun, couldn't have enjoyment or anything else, but it is so important that future careers depend on this. So the predictive grades were operated last year and we hope and beg you to operate them again this year. They hate the ones that got the high marks and all, that is another situation. They have to be examined again to make sure that we can tidy that up. But we need clarity and we need it now. The whole school community, from the Board of Management now, the parents' councils, the teachers and the whole lot, they need to be supported. They need to get a clear indication of a road map where they are going. But above all the students and the parents and the families, I am pleading with you to have an understanding. You are a mentor yourself, so you should understand. It is not an easy road. It has not ever been easy, but it has been a horrible time with COVID and everything else. So, as I said, I am begging you and we in the Rural Independence are pleading with you because we are listening to mothers and fathers and guardians and students and the emails that I have got from, you know, students themselves, six-year students, are heart-rendering and are so eloquent and so well put together. I have great hope in the future. Please look after them.
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