WATCH: Cancel next summer’s school exams, urges children’s commissioner

By Q Radio News and PA Reporter

Next summer’s school exams should be cancelled, Northern Ireland’s children’s commissioner has said.

Koulla Yiasouma said that the current situation was “untenable” for schools and young people, and that immediate action must be taken to alleviate it.

She added that members of her consultative youth panel in exam years were extremely anxious about their school experiences.

Her comments come as the Welsh government has announced it's scrapping all GCSE, AS and A level exams next year because of coronavirus.

Instead it says it'll introduce teacher-managed assessments.

Education minister Kirsty Williams says it's necessary because of lost learning during the pandemic.

Kirsty Williams

Speaking about the situation in Northern Ireland, the commissioner said: “I have since engaged with other young people, teaching unions and the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) and I am absolutely clear: the current situation is untenable and the minister (Education Minister Peter Weir) must move to protect the health and wellbeing of our young people.

Koulla Yiasouma

“My suggestion would be to cancel exams. However, if the minister can come up with an alternative that will dramatically alleviate the stress that young people are under as a result of continuous assessments, then I am very willing to listen.”

In Northern Ireland, GCSE, AS and A-level exams are set to go ahead with Mr Weir saying that exams represent the most valid and reliable method of assessment.

Ms Yiasouma expressed some sympathy with the minister’s desire to avoid doing a “solo run” on cancelling exams because young people will have to compete with young people across the UK for jobs and universities.

However, she added that young people were “suffering mentally” in a bid to ensure every assignment and class test was perfect.

“Young people have reported being continuously assessed, and indeed principals and teachers have confirmed they are continuously assessing,” she said.

“This means young people are in constant ‘exam stress’ mode. They are suffering mentally and it cannot continue for the rest of the school year.

“A decision must be made before Christmas.”

One young person speaking about their experience

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has also called on the minister to deliver a fair system that addresses the needs of all pupils.

It said: “We remain highly concerned that the minister has prioritised the examinations system over the needs and well-being of our students.”

“Given the current climate, it is vital that mitigations and contingency plans are provided, and schools, pupils and parents are reassured that the exam fiasco of 2020 will not be repeated.”

Only last week, Q Radio News pressed the Education Minister Peter Weir on whether exams would be cancelled.

In response, he said, “We’re not envisaging exams being cancelled," stressing that contingency plans would be put in place.

The Minister also said, “We can’t go on a solo run” in cancelling exams saying that “compatibility and portability with the rest of the United Kingdom” was needed.

Speaking today, the Minister echoed these calls saying he was disappointed by the move made in Wales.

He added: “Rather than alleviate stress amongst learners, I believe the Welsh proposals for teacher-managed assessments, and the lack of clarity about what these will actually entail, are likely to significantly increase anxiety levels which will further impact pupils’ mental health and wellbeing.”

He said his priority was that exams to award CCEA qualifications should go ahead as planned in 2021.

Peter Weir

“The experience of 2020 has shown us that exams remain the fairest method of assessing and awarding qualifications.

“In these uncertain times, the familiarity of the exam system provides greater certainty as learners know what they are working towards and how it will be awarded.”

Following the change in policy in Wales, other Northern Irish political parties have urged the Education Minister to take action and scrap exams.

The UUP Education spokesperson, Robbie Butler said:

Robbie Butler

“The intervention locally with the Commissioner for Children and Young People, Koulla Yiasouma and our Mental Health Champion Siobhan O’Neill both calling for a cancellation and alternative process adds serious weight to the growing calls on Peter Weir to put the wellbeing of our students first and develop robust provisions that don’t echo the disastrous iteration of the algorithm for the 2020 cohort.

“I urge Minister Weir to, as a matter of priority, detail an appropriate scheme that will recognise the lost classroom time due to COVID19, protect the value of the hard work undertaken by our students, copper fasten the wellbeing of this cohort of students and finally, ensure that the examination award is robust and holds its value with Universities and schools across these Islands.

Meanwhile his SDLP colleague, Daniel McCrossan said:

Daniel McCrossan

“The Executive Mental Health Champion and the NI Children’s Commissioner have already made their view clear. The current situation is untenable, adding huge levels of stress to our students. They have urged the Minister to act to provide the wellbeing of our students, by cancelling exams for 2021.”

“These are clearly unprecedented times and while there is a glimmer of hope with progress towards a vaccine, we do not know what COVID-19 will bring in the coming weeks and months. It is simply unjust and unjustifiable to continue with exams, given so many students have had to isolate and missed vital learning time.”

“The Welsh have shown us the way. Let’s follow their example. The Minister and CCEA talk often of ensuring our qualifications have portability and will be accepted by universities and employers elsewhere. If we stick to the Welsh formula we can achieve that without disadvantaging our children.”

“The Minister for Education must show some leadership, give our students a break and without further delay, cancel these exams for 2021.”