Minister for Education Norma Foley says grades for next year’s Leaving Certs will not be artificially boosted, as was the case until now since and during the pandemic years.
While students’ marks in 2024 were increased by an average of 7.5 per cent to keep them in line with previous years, the adjustment next year will be lower.
Ms Foley told reporters in Co Kerry on Friday: “From 2025 we will see the adjustment reduced over time, step by step. The State Examinations Commission will determine how long that will take. I am very clear that it shouldn’t be a cliff edge; it should be a very small reduction over a number of years,” .
“That will give an opportunity for students to return to pre-Covid levels … while also acknowledging that it shouldn’t happen of a sudden.”
🚨Leaving Cert Results Day🚨
Today is a momentous day in the lives of almost 61,000 students across Ireland and your families and school communities as you receive your Leaving Certificate results. pic.twitter.com/s0HZ5wQs37
— Norma Foley T.D (@NormaFoleyTD1) August 23, 2024
The Minister’s intervention means 68 per cent of students’ grades have been adjusted upwards. This is on foot of results across the board being increased by an average of 7.5%.
Higher-level maths continues to deliver bonus CAO points in spades for students. 20,330 students sat higher level and of these, almost all – 19,640 – secured 25 bonus CAO points.
A student at St Kevin’s College, a DEIS school in Finglas, north Dublin, received the maxium 625 points.
