Cllr Tomás Sharkey believes everyone would be best served by the Leaving Cert results being issued sooner
Sinn Féin County Councillor Tomás Sharkey is calling for the 2015 Leaving Certificate results to be released earlier than the traditional mid-August date.
His remarks came on the eve of around 1,600 students in the county receiving their results earlier today.
He said: “Students will know how many points they got and college places will be awarded in the coming weeks. This leaves very little time for students and families to make arrangements for the start of the first semester.
“Every year students appeal some results and their exams are rechecked. This year, the appealed results will not be available until mid-october. If a result is upgraded, the student may qualify for a place in a higher preference course but far too late into the semester. I believe that this timeline is not good enough. There is no reason why results can’t be issued to students at the start of August and appealed results made available by the end of September.
“Earlier Leaving Cert results will give students more time to find accommodation and to sort grant applications. Earlier appeals results will mean that students can join their higher preference college courses before it is too late.
“The State Examinations Commission is an efficient organisation and I believe that if the Minister for Education requested this new timeframe, it would be achieved,” said Cllr Sharkey.
Meanwhile, a number of local politicians have been in contact to wish local students well with Labour Senator Mary Moran encouraging them to “celebrate wisely and keep safe in the coming days.”
Talk of the Town 