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19/08/2013
'Human Error' Blamed For Exam Paper Mistakes
A report by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) has found that a number of mistakes found in this year's Leaving and Junior Cert examination papers, was due to "human error".
The report said that staff cutbacks of experienced senior staff played a significant role in the "unusually high" number of errors in this year's exams, as well as the operational demands associated with preparing large quantities of papers for the various exams.
In the report, which was sent to Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn, the SEC said over the past three years, 40% of its staff had left – most through incentivised early retirement schemes, while 30% of the current senior Exam Assessment Managers had only been appointed within the last 12 months.
This year, many of the mistakes were found in Maths papers and the report said the "phasing in" of a new Maths syllabus led to a significant increase in workload, with just half the normal number of senior staff.
Mr Quinn responded to the report, saying he noted the recommendations made by the body and was "confident" the SEC had a "robust system" in place to respond to the mistakes.
(JP/IT)
The report said that staff cutbacks of experienced senior staff played a significant role in the "unusually high" number of errors in this year's exams, as well as the operational demands associated with preparing large quantities of papers for the various exams.
In the report, which was sent to Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn, the SEC said over the past three years, 40% of its staff had left – most through incentivised early retirement schemes, while 30% of the current senior Exam Assessment Managers had only been appointed within the last 12 months.
This year, many of the mistakes were found in Maths papers and the report said the "phasing in" of a new Maths syllabus led to a significant increase in workload, with just half the normal number of senior staff.
Mr Quinn responded to the report, saying he noted the recommendations made by the body and was "confident" the SEC had a "robust system" in place to respond to the mistakes.
(JP/IT)
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