Education Minister Norma Foley has said planning is underway for a combination of Leaving Cert exams and an alternative assessment option.
Ms Foley has announced that the process will involve exams but a second, non-exam process will also be explored.
However, the details are yet to be worked out.
The decision came following “intensive engagements” of the sub-group of the Advisory Group of education stakeholders.
A statement on Friday evening said Ms Foley is now inviting education stakeholders to participate in intensive, confidential bilateral discussions with Department officials to progress work on two distinct processes for Leaving Certificate 2021: planning for examinations and scoping out a corresponding measure, different to examinations that can also be offered to students.
Discussions on Junior Cycle examinations will continue in these engagements.
Ms Foley said: “Even though our schools have made huge strides in remote learning, the closure of in-school provision has impacted on learning and preparedness for examinations, particularly for students at greater risk of educational disadvantage.
“We must provide our students with a clear way to progress to the next stage in life – further and higher education and training or the world of work.
“Students want certainty. They want fairness. They deserve both.
“We will be actively planning both to hold the Leaving Certificate examinations, and to put in place a corresponding measure that can also be offered to students.
“Given the impact on learning for students both last year and this year, there is also a need to explore a parallel approach which can be offered to students.”
The Department has indicated to the education partners that any corresponding process would need to include the following features:
• The State Examinations Commission running both the examinations and the corresponding process
• Better provision for out-of-school learners in the corresponding process
• Some cognisance of performance in “additional component” elements of examinations (coursework, orals, practicals, etc), and
• Timely progression to higher and further education using either examinations or the outcome of any corresponding process.
