Norma Foley has suspended plans to have parts of the Leaving Cert assessed by teachers, citing the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on education.
The Minister for Education pledged to “accelerate” Leaving Cert reform plans with an emphasis on project work and practicals which will be assessed by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) instead of teachers.
Ms Foley insisted teacher assessment remains on the table while the SEC researches the “potential role and impact of generative artificial intelligence in teacher-based assessment in particular”.
As part of an announcement of an update programme for Senior Cycle Redevelopment, Ms Foley said: “Over the past two years I have listened to the views of our students, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders.
“I am particularly conscious of the more recent accelerated evolution and growth in generative AI, and I understand there is a need to explore the opportunities afforded by these developments in an educational context, as well as the challenges they might present.
“With that in mind, I have asked the SEC that further research would be commissioned on the potential role and impact of generative artificial intelligence in teacher-based assessment in particular.
“While this work is ongoing, I have decided to progress additional and practical components that will be externally assessed by the SEC.
“I look forward to working collaboratively with our partners across the education sector to achieve our shared vision of excellence and equity, and enriching our students’ experience, in line with Senior Cycle Redevelopment.”
Ms Foley confirmed that changes will be introduced to nine subjects from 2025, including biology, physics, chemistry and business.
Part of the subjects will be externally assessed, so results will not just hinge on the June exams.
Meanwhile, two new subjects are to be added to the Leaving Cert programme.
Students will be able to study climate action and sustainable development, along with drama, film and theatre studies.
Speaking on Wednesday, Ms Foley said artificial intelligence was not a “part of our lived experience” when the original reforms were planned.
“We live in the world of AI now,” she said.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, she said: “I now have the opportunity to look at AI. I believe, in terms of education, we can harness it for the positive; I’m also aware that there are challenges with it.”
She said work is being done across the world in relation to AI and said the Government “will move as expeditiously as we possibly can”.
The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) welcomed the announcement.
General secretary Michael Gillespie said: “Our clear and unambiguous position has always been that State certification is key to all developments and must be retained.
“TUI members have always been fundamentally opposed to assessing their own students for State certificate purposes and therefore external assessment and State certification – which retain significant public trust – are essential for all written examinations and all additional components of assessment.”
Asked if teacher-based assessment has been scrapped due to a lack of buy-in from teachers’ unions, Ms Foley said she does not accept that.
She said it has “always been the case” that teachers will have to be “suitably confident and suitably trained” before they can be involved in assessing Leaving Certificate examinations.
“I need the time now to do that. In the first instance, I need the information and then I need the time to do it with them – and we will do that.”
