Junior and Leaving Cert exams are still expected to go ahead this year as planned, according to a leading teachers' union.
But mocks – the dreaded preparatory assessments ahead of the big State tests – could be delayed, the general secretary of the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) has said.
Schools are calling for an extension of the Christmas holidays until January 18 as cases spiral across the country.
But Michael Gillespie said this morning that the TUI expects State exams to go ahead.
"We have been in planning before Christmas with the stakeholders," he told RTE's Morning Ireland.
"There have been changes already made to the assessment."
He added, however: "Maybe the mocks should be delayed.
"Depending on what schools you’re in, some mocks are run earlier or later.
"And maybe the mocks don’t need to be as big a priority as sometimes schools make them.
"There is a certain amount of flexibility, and teachers are very flexible – as they’ve shown."
The TUI – which met Education Minister Norma Foley yesterday to discuss the situation as daily case numbers mushroom into the mid-thousands – wants the Government to allow a week of remote learning from January 11.
"The logical date to reopen schools should be January 18 at a minimum," said Mr Gillespie.
This, he said, would mean Ireland has had two weeks at Level Five before pupils are admitted back in – with hopes of a reduction in case numbers as a result.
"Schools need certainty," he added. "They need to know that that’s what’s going to happen on the 11th, so that teachers and students can gear up for that next Monday.
"The schools should open as soon as possible, but in a sustainable manner.
"That’s what we were able to achieve from September right to the Christmas holidays. We were able to keep schools open in a sustainable and safe manner."
