Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/panitanphoto

Explainer: What the Leaving Cert Calculated Grade errors mean for students

Around 6,500 students will now receive higher grades as a result.

IT EMERGED EARLIER today that two errors were found in the code responsible for calculating the grades of this year’s Leaving Cert students.

The errors are estimated to have impacted the grades of approximately 6,500 students.

Education Minister Norma Foley said that those who received a higher grade “will not be affected in any way” and that those who were marked down “will have their proper grade restored”. 

What happened?

This afternoon, Taoiseach Michéal Martin told the Dáil that two errors were identified in the Calculated Grades system. Students received their grades on 7 September. 

At 4pm, Minister Norma Foley made a formal announcement and said she was informed of the first error last Wednesday. 

She said that 7,200 Leaving Cert grades have been affected by the two errors found in the same part of the coding used to implement the standardisation process. 

The first error was in one line of code programmed by private company Polymetrika. It affected the way in which student’s Junior Cycle grades were included in the calculation. 

It showed that instead of including Junior Cycle English, Irish, maths and the student’s two best subjects in the calculation, the three core subjects and the student’s two weakest subjects were instead counted. 

When the department examined this error, it spotted a second issue contained in the same section of code programmed by Polymetrika. 

This error showed that the Junior Cycle results for Civic, Social and Political Education (CSPE), supposed to be discounted in the grading system, were instead included in the calculation. 

As a result, some students received a higher grade than they should have, while others received a lower grade.

Those who received a higher grade “will not be affected in any way” and those who were marked down “will have their proper grade restored”, Minister Foley said.  

The process is still ongoing so it is not fully know how many students will receive higher grades, however Foley said it is likely to be around 6,500. 

NO FEE MIN FOLEY GOV BUILDINGS JB2 File image of Education Minister Norma Foley.

What happens next?

The coding errors have been corrected and re-run through the model. 

ETS Educational Testing Service has been hired by the department to review relevant aspects of the coding. This is expected to take a number of days.

Once this is completed the department will contact all students to advise them that they will receive a higher grade or grades, or to inform them that they have not been impacted by the error.

Will students receive new CAO offers if their points increase? 

The department will send a corrected file of student results to the CAO so it can work with higher education institutions to determine if a student is due a new offer. The department has said “everything possible” will be done to facilitate their admission.

Any student who would have been entitled to a different offer will receive this offer or a deferred offer as soon as practicable after the updating of results.

The department has said this is in line with the practice that occurs in the appeals process every year.

Minister Foley said it is hoped that, similar to the usual appeals process, the majority of new CAO offers can be taken up in this academic year, though some may have to be taken up next year.

“Last year there were 17,000 appeals, of which 6,000 upgrades were received. And of that 6,000 upgrades, 300 CAO higher preference offers were made,” she said.

And all of those higher preference offers were made within the academic year bar three. I would be hopeful and we will certainly do all in our power to ensure that, if at all possible, we could reach that level of achievement this year as well.

The department has put in place a dedicated helpline and email address to answer queries from students. The helpline number is 01 8892199 and the email address is LC2020@education.gov.ie . 

The helpline will be open today until 7pm today and tomorrow from 10am-5pm. 

When the results are published on the portal detailed information on this process will be available for students on gov.ie/LeavingCertificate.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
Our Explainer articles bring context and explanations in plain language to help make sense of complex issues. We're asking readers like you to support us so we can continue to provide helpful context to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

Close
19 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Colfer
    Favourite John Colfer
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 6:33 PM

    excellent idea, but unfortunately it won’t work until the tendering process changes. I think its nigh on impossible to tender for such projects unless you’ve done similar work before or know somebody, who knows somebody….

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nucky Thompson
    Favourite Nucky Thompson
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 7:10 PM

    You are wrong.

    The EU procurement public sector directives are based on the pillars of non discrimination, equal treatment, and proportionality.

    The Dept of Finance have made it very clear that SME’s should not be disadvantaged in any way as part of any procurement process. They have in fact issued a Circular (10/10) which has changed public procurement procedures to open up the market to smaller companies.

    This article contains a lot of ‘statements’ with zero proof or evidence of truth to back them up.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute censored
    Favourite censored
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 10:39 PM

    He is right. Give examples of successful applicants please.

    Most Irish companies focus on international markets immediately, and for good reason: it’s easier and the potential rewards are greater.

    10
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Lanigan
    Favourite Paul Lanigan
    Report
    May 5th 2012, 11:56 AM

    John is correct. The Public Servants making the purchasing decisions are risk adverse in nature and given the choice between an expensive big (secure) company with a track record (low perceived risk) and a smaller indigenous business that has little brand recognition (ass cover) – they will always go with the ‘safe’ option.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Higgins
    Favourite Sean Higgins
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 6:07 PM

    Most small companies don’t see a cent of this money when trying to start up employing staff and paying prsi, paye and vat. So where the hell is it all going………

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Higgins
    Favourite Sean Higgins
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 7:49 PM

    Thompson set up your own company and then get bak to me.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nucky Thompson
    Favourite Nucky Thompson
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 8:44 PM

    No need my friend, I already have my own company and employ 8 full time staff.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Howard
    Favourite David Howard
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 10:25 PM

    The process has been opened up, but the reality is that if an Irish SME “won” an RFP without reference or ‘form’ in any major contract, a large or multinational company would/will simple go to the eu courts saying the process was non compliant and the Irish gov will capitulate… That of course is if anyone who was in a position to make a decision had a pair and stepped outside the cosy convenience of awarding the contract to the huge company with the huge price tag and cosy side clauses in the first place…

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank2521
    Favourite Frank2521
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 11:38 PM

    Enterprise Ireland – a better name would be ” Only friends need apply”.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Roddy
    Favourite Joe Roddy
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 11:50 PM

    That’s a nonsense comment. EI do try and help. They don’t like single person companies, they prefer in teams. They also heavily lean on experience, so anyone under 30 would find it more difficult.

    I don’t really agree with government betting tax payers money on start-ups. The only thing start-ups need is customers to generate cash flow.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall Dooley
    Favourite Niall Dooley
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 6:56 PM

    Great article and it’s a view |’ve shared for many years. Government contracts should be open to a competitive tender process perhaps not annually but certainly every couple of years. I have no doubt public money is being wasted by companies who have government contracts and who over time become inefficient but at the same time don’t fear losing the contract they may have held for decades. The new startups should be the way to always push for innovation. Surely, there are startups who could revolutionise our health service for example with a clever use of software. The number of areas this would apply to is enormous. We need to be investing more in these science and technology companies as they will drive any economy and improve our standard of living to no end. All we need is someone in government with true vision. I lament at how little consideration science is given in forming public policy. I recommend everyone to read ‘The Geek Manifesto’ by Mark Henderson.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Craig Walters
    Favourite Craig Walters
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 9:12 PM

    Hang on hpsu, so called gazelles, are innovative, manufacturers or internationally traded services, but most importantly have an export focus ! So how can we buy from them if they’ve an export focus ?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Popsicle Pete
    Favourite Popsicle Pete
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 7:20 PM

    What if they have inferior products or services, why buy from them then?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Fintan Kennedy
    Favourite John Fintan Kennedy
    Report
    May 5th 2012, 7:38 AM

    Good article. As far as I’m aware winning government business is next to impossible for most Irish software firms. Which often puts them in a strange place when competing overseas as their rivals can cite govt business at home. In spite of this many succeed, but little or no thanks to Ireland’s government sector. It will be interesting to see if our govts new interest in cloud computing will result in local software contracts too

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RP McMurphy
    Favourite RP McMurphy
    Report
    May 5th 2012, 8:53 AM

    @nucky thompson. Your comments are wildly off the mark judging by the experience of many, myself included, but perhaps one of your gifts is dealing with ps procurement. Does your company have a website perchance? You are very vague in the description of what field you are in.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nucky Thompson
    Favourite Nucky Thompson
    Report
    May 5th 2012, 9:22 AM

    There are too many companies in Ireland who think they are good enough to win public sector contracts when the reality is that they simply are not good enough.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Faulkner
    Favourite Peter Faulkner
    Report
    May 7th 2012, 11:56 AM

    The main point of the article is quite obviously valid. The state should support its own investments, if the project is good enough to invest in, it should follow it must be good enough to buy from!

    All SMEs should have a fair shot at Government procurement.. They generate employment and tax revenues in this country, it is more than galling to see overseas firms pick off supply contacts and leave nothing here. My own sector, Print and Packaging, is a classic example. We have seen a vast number of closures due to a lack of orders…while government spends overseas, all justified by Euro gobbledygook and an inability of our public servants to innovate in making it happen at home. As usual, if you don’t want to do it, it becomes impossible!

    Peter Faulkner

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Funding Enterprise
    Favourite Funding Enterprise
    Report
    May 5th 2012, 4:10 PM

    We know that the key to IT/Digital velocity is early sales connectivity. Even though we are a funding organisation, we seek to drive growth in early stage IT.Digital primarily through minimum viable product and, if necessary, service work. Recently we have effectively seed funded a superb operation in prospect analytics with service work and am now driving it with a tactically assembled sales force. This week we have taken a significant stake in a digital messaging marketing platform in return for accelerating its growth out across our very extensive network.
    Yes, funding is important – but connection to the commercial world and commercial acceleration are often more important again,.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Higgins
    Favourite Sean Higgins
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 9:29 PM

    Did you get help setting up

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nucky Thompson
    Favourite Nucky Thompson
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 9:47 PM

    Other than a great wife and an understanding bank manager I got to where I am now pretty much on my own. We have won a number of public sector contracts over the past 5 years by offering innovative solutions to public sector requirements.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RP McMurphy
    Favourite RP McMurphy
    Report
    May 5th 2012, 11:32 AM

    @nucky. That may indeed be true Nucky so I am even more curious re your company/ website now in order to learn from you.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds