This year's Leaving Cert was always going to cause consternation, regardless of what had occurred.
The inability to hold exams meant that a formula had to be concocted to give students the grades that they were supposed to deserve. Now that results have been issued and CAO offers sent, Liveline held a discussion on the 'unfairness' of the Department of Education's process of calculated grades.
Only, it was the privileged few stakeholders in private institutions that were calling foul play on this year's Leaving Cert class.
The removal of school profiling from the formula of calculated grades meant that schools had a level playing field when it came to their student grades. Most years, private schools dominate the top of the charts when it comes to top point earners. However, this year's parity has got a few people's noses out of joint.
Listening to Liveline just to get myself riled up listening to private fees-paying parents complaining about their little Bronntanas or Fuinneog not getting the points they wanted
— Declan Cashin (@Tweet_Dec) September 11, 2020
#liveline lots of kids who don't bother studying in mainstream schools go to the Institute for 5th and 6th year to catch up and cram for leaving cert. They are not all automatically as clever as they think they are.
— Mary Allidine (@MaryAllidine) September 11, 2020
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I find it very unfair for some Parents giving out on Social media & ringing up #Liveline to compare Fee paying schools to State run. It's complete snobbery to look down on students who attend fantastic state schools & who have also worked incredibly hard. #CAO20 #LeavingCert
— L. NíHéineacháin (@LaobhaoiseNihE) September 11, 2020
There is a rampant educational inequality in our country. This year's Leaving Cert class is the first one to have parity with one another. Thankfully, background and school reputation wasn't brought into the equation when delivering results to students.
People took to Liveline today to complain about their entitlement being stripped away. These are the people that want to uphold the status quo because it means that they'll always have the upper-hand.
Education should be a level playing field. The quality of education children receive should not be due to their bank balances of their parents or the area they live in. Unfairness isn't the lost opportunity to ram home your wealth advantage and achieve results because of it. Unfairness is never being able to reach your true academic potential due to where you're from or what school you can afford to go to.
