Junior Cert exams cancelled and options on the table for Leaving Cert students

The Education Minister is in the process of briefing teaching unions who will then relay the plans to their membership.

The Junior Cert exmas have been cancelled and the Cabinet Education Sub-Committee has signed off on a proposal that will allow Leaving Cert Students the option of calculated grades or a written exam in each subject.

The Government hopes the latest proposal will act as an incentive to get students to sit the written exam come the summer.

Minister for Education Norma Foley has confirmed that Leaving Cert students will have the option of a calculated grade, or a written exam in each subject.

The Leaving Certificate exams will run in the normal time of June subject to public health advice.

They will include adjustments that were introduced last year and early this year. These adjustments offer students more choice in exam questions.

Speaking this evening on RTÉ's Six One, Ms Foley said that students now have "clarity and choice" as a result of the format, which has been agreed with unions.

She said Government will have a "cautious" return to school for Leaving Cert students in early March, but that requires the approval of public health advice.