Leaving Cert Results 2020: Gender and socio-economics to be taken into account

It could have a big impact on grading.

Many parents and students still do not feel fully comfortable with the calculated grading system put in place for the class of 202 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A lot of students are concerned that they will receive a lower grade than they could have achieved if exams had taken place earlier this year, similar to the grading controversy happening in the UK at the moment. Education Minister Norma Foley recently stated that both gender and socio-economics will be used to help tally the final grades. "The use of demographic characteristics, including gender and socio-economic status of the school, was inherent in the Technical Working Group's design of the calculated grades model," she said. With female students on average scoring better in tests and private schools often topping the polls for best results each year, the use of gender and socio-economics could have a big impact on the final results. According to The Independent, Sinn Féin TD ­Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire is also concerned that this grading system may leave some students at an unfair disadvantage. "We've been raising significant concerns regarding school profiling or 'standardisation' for months now," he said. "Neither class nor gender should define whether a student gets an A or not, nor whether a student fails or not." Irish students are expected to receive their Leaving Cert results in the coming weeks.