Durkan repeats call for GCSE and A Level exams to be cancelled

The Foyle MLA commented: “I have written again to Minister for Education, Peter Weir, and urged him to act quickly in the best interests of our young people and cancel GCSE and A Level exams in 2021.

“Across the North, there is growing concern about the adverse impact of the pandemic on the education of our young people and this is causing significant stress, among families and teaching staff.

“With three months of lockdown and no face-to-face teaching, significant learning opportunities have been lost for all pupils. However, this has a particular impact on pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, who often have had less access to online learning. Since schools re-opened in September, the disruption to teaching has continued, with a large number of students and teachers needing to self-isolate.

“The impact of COVID-19 on our pupils is absolutely clear and the failure of Minister Weir to act is nothing short of scandalous. The Children’s Commissioner and the Mental Health Champion have both called for exams to be scrapped for 2021 and a temporary move to teacher-moderated assessment, in the interests of the mental health of our young people.

“I, once again, urge Minister Weir to put the interests on pupils and teachers ahead of CCEA and immediately announce that GSCE and A Level exams in 2021 are cancelled.”