15/06/2005
Exams body calls for business as usual
Northern Ireland’s exams body, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA), has confirmed that all school examinations will go ahead as normal despite industial action by non-teaching staff.
The Industrial Action, which is planned for today and Friday, comes as a number of important GCSE, GCE and Key Skills exams are timetabled for the remainder of the week.
CCEA’s Director of Operations Neil Anderson said that in coming to the decision, CCEA had kept the interests of students at the centre of their thinking.
“With 17 different examination papers covering ten subjects taking place over the two days totalling almost 35,000 entries, we feel we have no option but to go ahead with the examinations as scheduled,” Mr Anderson said. “To attempt to cancel and/or reschedule so many papers at such short notice has the potential to both compromise the examinations and to disadvantage students.
“Over the coming week we expect to be in constant contact with schools and colleges to provide whatever support and assistance we can. We will also be keeping in touch with the other awarding bodies who offer these examinations in Northern Ireland to ensure they are kept appraised of the situation.”
Meanwhile, Education Minister Angela Smith as met with local political parties and teaching unions ahead of this week’s planned strikes.
Mrs Smith said continued co-operation with everyone involved in education would help put pupils first.
"Nothing is more important than putting children first and that is why, since becoming education Minister, I have made it a priority to meet key stakeholders and those at the chalk face, to listen to their views and concerns,” the Minister said.
"Today, I held a number of positive and constructive meetings which provided an opportunity to discuss at first hand a range of educational issues. What was very clear was that we all want what’s best for children’s education and I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders to make progress."
Mrs Smith met delegations from the DUP, the Northern Ireland Teaching Council, Sinn Fein, SDLP, Alliance, UUP and the Northern Ireland Committee – Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NICICTU).
(MB/SP)
The Industrial Action, which is planned for today and Friday, comes as a number of important GCSE, GCE and Key Skills exams are timetabled for the remainder of the week.
CCEA’s Director of Operations Neil Anderson said that in coming to the decision, CCEA had kept the interests of students at the centre of their thinking.
“With 17 different examination papers covering ten subjects taking place over the two days totalling almost 35,000 entries, we feel we have no option but to go ahead with the examinations as scheduled,” Mr Anderson said. “To attempt to cancel and/or reschedule so many papers at such short notice has the potential to both compromise the examinations and to disadvantage students.
“Over the coming week we expect to be in constant contact with schools and colleges to provide whatever support and assistance we can. We will also be keeping in touch with the other awarding bodies who offer these examinations in Northern Ireland to ensure they are kept appraised of the situation.”
Meanwhile, Education Minister Angela Smith as met with local political parties and teaching unions ahead of this week’s planned strikes.
Mrs Smith said continued co-operation with everyone involved in education would help put pupils first.
"Nothing is more important than putting children first and that is why, since becoming education Minister, I have made it a priority to meet key stakeholders and those at the chalk face, to listen to their views and concerns,” the Minister said.
"Today, I held a number of positive and constructive meetings which provided an opportunity to discuss at first hand a range of educational issues. What was very clear was that we all want what’s best for children’s education and I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders to make progress."
Mrs Smith met delegations from the DUP, the Northern Ireland Teaching Council, Sinn Fein, SDLP, Alliance, UUP and the Northern Ireland Committee – Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NICICTU).
(MB/SP)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
