Latest news with #HelenMcEntee
Extra.ie
8 hours ago
- General
- Extra.ie
Nervous Irish parents take to social media as Leaving Cert 2025 starts
A record number of students are sitting down to take their Leaving or Junior Cert exams today. Over 800 schools across the country are full with over 140,000 anxious students, inside silent examination halls, all heads down, concentrating hard. The Minister for Education, Helen McEntee, said that while students should work hard at their exams, there are always other options. 'Really this is an important time for young people. However, it is also important that they understand there are numerous avenues and pathways available for them to achieve their ultimate goals.' But what about the thousands of anxious parents who dropped off their nervous teens at the school gates this morning, no doubt wishing they could take this stress away from them, even imagining sitting the exams for them. Parents took to social media this morning to share their thoughts about the exams and their kids, with one parent posting on Reddit – I'm so nervous I was in the toilet three times this morning… and I am not even the one sitting the exams.' Pic: Shutterstock While another anxious mum posted 'I don't know about you, but I woke up this morning with a massive feeling of nostalgia. I remembered his first day of junior infants and how scared he was. I remembered how I wanted to hug away the fear and protect him from everything. Fast forward 14 years and today is the day he starts his Leaving Cert. I'm still the same worried mum. I still want to hug away the fear.' As always others had fun remarks when it comes to this time of year, one reader quipped 'Ah.. that explains the nice weather.' Funny how it's become known as 'Leaving cert weather' if we get fine sunny days in June. Perhaps the last word should go to a parent who posted, 'I'm so proud of my kid heading off this morning, regardless of outcome. Just watching them all as I drove away, I realised, they were in 1st year when covid hit and had two years of chaos, online schooling, lockdowns etc.'
BreakingNews.ie
11 hours ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Leaving Cert begins with record 140,000 students to sit State exams
The number of students sitting State exams has passed 140,000 for the first time. Students from over 800 post primary schools will sit down to English Paper One from 9.30am this morning. Advertisement The number of candidates is up by 3 per cent on last year's figure of 136,000 across Leaving Cert, Junior Cert and Leaving Cert Applied (LCA). Minister for Education Helen McEntee said while students should work hard at their exams, there are always other options. "Really this is an important times for young people. But at the same time it is important that they know there are so many different avenus and routes and pathways for them to achieve, ultimately whatever it is they want to achieve at the end of the day. "I just want to wish the many thousands of students who will be doing their exams the best of luck." Taoiseach Micheál Martin also had a message for all those starting their exams today. He said: "I want to wish all of the students participating in the exams the very best of success. "They've worked hard... and just to keep it in perspective and do the very best they can. The country is with them as they go about what is a very important exam for them." This year's exams will run until Tuesday, June 24th for Leaving Cert and Monday, June 16th for Junior Cert.
RTÉ News
14 hours ago
- General
- RTÉ News
Record number of students to begin Leaving and Junior Cert exams
A record number of candidates will begin the State Leaving and Junior Certificate exams today. 140,457 students will sit the exams, the first time the number has exceeded 140,000. The rise is due to population growth. 61,632 candidates will take the main Leaving Certificate written exams over the next several weeks, an increase of 5% compared to last year. There has been an 11% rise in students opting for the Leaving Certificate Applied programme. 4,512 students have chosen that pathway. 74,313 candidates will begin their Junior Cycle exams this morning. The State exams will take place in examination centres across more than 800 post-primary schools and other centres across the country. The State Examinations Commission has described the process as "a massive logistical exercise involving the secure distribution of circa four million examination papers". The exams begin at 9.30am with English Paper 1 for most Leaving Certificate students. LCA and Junior Cycle candidates will also sit English papers. The last Leaving Certificate exam takes place on 24 June. Leaving Certificate results this year will once again be artificially inflated through a post-marking adjustment which will be applied after all marking of individual papers has been completed. Post-marking adjustments were introduced following the Covid pandemic in an attempt to compensate students who had missed out as a result of school closures and other restrictions arising from the pandemic. Following a request from the Department of Education and in order to facilitate a gradual return to normal pre-Covid outcomes, this year's post-marking adjustment will be reduced to bring results in aggregate on average to a point broadly midway between 2020 and 2021 levels. Leaving Certificate results will be issued to candidates on Friday 22 August. The State Examinations Commission said this date took account of the time needed to apply the post-marking adjustment. It said the timeline for results also had to allow sufficient time for an extensive range of quality assurance checks to be undertaken. Minister for Education Helen McEntee is among many public figures and organisations who have wished the Class of 2025 good luck. Sending her best wishes, Ms McEntee said: "I know the amount of work and effort you have put in to reach this point. It is the culmination of many years of effort. "This can be a very stressful time so I would remind everyone that when it comes to examinations, all we can do is our best. "We are all very much behind you over the next few weeks, and I know that regardless of the outcome of these examinations, there will be many great opportunities ahead for you all," she said.
Irish Independent
17 hours ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Record 140,457 sit Leaving, Junior and other state exams starting today
The State Examinations Commission (SEC) said the record number of candidates was 'linked to demographic increases, with the numbers entered passing 140,000 for the first time'. The number entered to take the 2025 certificate examinations has increased by 3pc (up 4,297) compared with last year's entry figure of 136,160 candidates, with the most significant increases in the numbers entered for the Leaving Cert programme (5pc) and Leaving Cert Applied programme (up 11pc). Of those sitting state exams, 61,632 are Leaving Cert candidates, 4,512 are final-year Leaving Cert Applied (LCA) candidates and 74,313 are Junior Cycle candidates. Education Minister Helen McEntee said: 'I want to send the very best wishes to all the students around the country who are starting their Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied and Junior Cycle examinations today. 'I know the amount of work and effort you have put in to reach this point. It is the culmination of many years of effort. 'This can be a very stressful time, so I would remind everyone that when it comes to examinations, all we can do is our best. An extensive logistical exercise involving the secure distribution of about four million exam papers to the examination superintendents 'We are all very much behind you over the next few weeks and I know that, regardless of the outcome of these examinations, there will be many great opportunities ahead for you all.' Students are set to sit exams in more than 800 centres nationwide, including post-primary schools and other locations. Delivery of the state examinations is an extensive logistical exercise involving the secure distribution of about four million exam papers to the examination superintendents responsible for overseeing written exams. The exams will run from today until June 24 for Leaving Cert (Established and Vocational); June 12 for Leaving Cert Applied; and June 16 for Junior Cycle exams. The SEC will apply a post-marking adjustment for the 2025 Leaving Cert examinations, once tests are completed, 'in order to bring the overall Leaving Certificate results in the aggregate on average to a point broadly midway between the 2020 and 2021 levels'. The SEC said it aimed to issue the 2025 Leaving Cert and Leaving Cert Applied examination results to candidates on August 22.
Irish Examiner
19 hours ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
Record number of students to sit State exams this year
A record number of students will today begin their Leaving Cert, Leaving Cert Applied and Junior Cycle exams as the 2025 State examinations begin. For the first time, the number of students beginning their exams today has surpassed 140,000, which the State Examination Commission (SEC) has linked to increasing demographics. Overall, the number of students set to take the 2025 exams increased by 3% when compared to last year; From 130,160 to 140,457. This includes 61,632 Leaving Certificate candidates, 4,512 final year Leaving Certificate Applied candidates and 74,313 Junior Cycle candidates. The most significant increases were recorded for the Leaving Certificate programme, up 5% when compared to 2024, and the Leaving Certificate Applied programme, which increased this year by 11%. This year also marks the beginning of moves to tackle grade inflation, which increased sharply post-pandemic. The SEC has been asked by the Department of Education to begin 'a gradual return to normal' Leaving Certificate grades in the main, which will involve a post-marking adjustment. This is expected to bring the overall Leaving Certificate results in the aggregate on average to a point broadly midway between the 2020 and 2021 levels. Education Minister Helen McEntee and Minister of State for Special Education Michael Moynihan wished students beginning their exams today good luck. Ms McEntee said: 'I know the amount of work and effort you have put in to reach this point. It is the culmination of many years of effort. 'This can be a very stressful time so I would remind everyone that when it comes to examinations, all we can do is our best. We are all very much behind you over the next few weeks, and I know that regardless of the outcome of these examinations, there will be many great opportunities ahead for you all.' Mr Moynihan said: 'I know the exam period can be a stressful time for students, so please do take care of yourselves and try to take some solace in the fact that there are many pathways to what you may hope to do next, some which you might not envisage at this point in time. You never know when or in what shape certain opportunities will arise. 'The skills and knowledge that you have learned during your schooling will stand to you during the examinations period, and throughout your life.' SEC chair Jacinta Stewart added: 'Today marks a real milestone in the educational journey for the thousands of candidates taking the State examinations. 'On behalf of my fellow commissioners and the staff of the SEC, I want to offer our sincere best wishes to all those taking examinations this year.' 'I also want to express my appreciation to parents and families as well as school communities for supporting these candidates at this very important time in their lives.'
