Labor Party spokesman Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has advocated for the elimination of the Leaving Cert exam system in Ireland. Speaking at an event organized by the Children’s Rights Alliance, Ó Ríordáin, a former school principal, highlighted the stress imposed on students by the current examination setup. He expressed his stance amidst concerns raised by youth activists regarding the mental well-being of young people.
Ó Ríordáin branded the Leaving Cert as outdated and suggested its abolition, citing his own enduring trauma from the experience even after 30 years. He praised the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union for engaging directly with the Minister for Education to address concerns about the exam, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
While calculated grades replaced traditional exams during the pandemic, the Leaving Cert proceeded in its conventional format after the Covid threat waned. Ó Ríordáin expressed hope that this alternative approach would be sustained in the future.