spurious wrote: » If there is a chance of silly 'predicted' grades in LC again, everyone's mocks have to be run at the same time, or those that hear what was on the paper are at a real advantage.
Treppen wrote: » No hope of standardisation anyway. Especially with DEB gone, examcraft.... well let's just say there will be many teachers making out their own mocks with various things to focus on, and varying levels of difficulty. And we know this time that predicted grades are always on the table, no matter what any minister says. I suspect the Dept. won't get involved in the area of mocks as that's a definite "local arrangement". Some schools don't even run mocks. Once Norma mentiones mocks the cat is out of the bag with predicted grades.
Wombatman wrote: » If some student's mocks are cancelled then the game is up. Mocks essential to exam prep surely? Students will break Twitter.
Rosita wrote: » Minister Foley will have a meltdown on hearing this (perhaps just as well they have so many contingency plans organised!;). It's an awful shame that only a non-politician can speak with this candour.Transmission levels too high for schools to reopen - Henry Transmission levels of Covid-19 remain "frankly far too high" for schools to reopen, the HSE's Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry has said. Speaking on RTɒs Morning Ireland, he said it is tragic to be talking about school closures again and no one wants to see it protracted because of what children experienced during the first lockdown. However, he said, transmission levels are currently ten times what they were in early December. He said this needs to reduce to a much lower level "before we can add to additional risk by the mixing of crowds at school settings". Dr Henry said he hopes there are elements of education that can be looked at more closely, particularly children with additional needs who are much more vulnerable to school closures and "our hope is there would be priority given to certain elements of the education sector". He said Ireland remains in a "precarious position" and while there is some positive news with falling levels of disease in the community, there are still "extraordinary levels" of infection. He said to put that in perspective the average number of cases in the community over the past five days is over 2,500 per day. "Those cases have yet to become sick, some will require hospitalisation, some unfortunately will require intensive care and some unfortunately will die", he said.
French Toast wrote: » I foresee the announcement that second level students will be brought back February 22nd, the Monday after the midterm break. High chance of a lot of posturing and aspirational hot air from the DES in the meantime, but that'll be the ultimate outcome.
km79 wrote: » http://twitter.com/Education_Ire/status/1352622159978500102 A big pile of nothing there No update
Str8outtaWuhan wrote: » Interesting position the unions are in. The longer the schools close the more likely that the predicted grade bandwagon gains speed or that the LC runs in July August. ISSU fed surveys to the advisory group recently where the massive majority wanted choice but interestingly very few on the students wanted the LC moved from june to july/august lol. I'd love to know if teachers here think of having to set exams from now to end of year knowing that there is a chance they might count . How much unconscious bias is there towards students?
In terms of schools reopening, Martin warned that schools may remain closed until St Patrick’s Day. “The full million (students) won’t be back” by this date, he said. He said discussions with the Department of Education and unions are ongoing, and that children with additional needs remain the priority. He said “a range of options” will be looked at in terms of Leaving Cert exams, adding that an update is expected in the coming weeks.
Rosita wrote: » Funny how St Patrick's Day (a Wednesday) is mentioned so often as a date of significance. In reality it's just seven school days from Easter break. If we get to that stage then the entire year and its assessments are up for grabs. And the Taoiseach has just unleashed the "clarity" people so they'd better have some semblance of a plan ready.
Rosita wrote: » My daughter watched, in inconsolable disbelief, her 40 year old teacher's funeral on webcam last week so yeah it's serious and local.
French Toast wrote: » Am I reading the situation wrong or is it possible that despite having much more time to prepare themselves this time around the DES have somehow managed to make this year's Leaving Cert an even bigger shít sandwich than last years?
