Source: www.piqsels.comThe Higher Education Minister says the Leaving Cert is not "cruel."
It comes after criticism of the exams from the head of a second-level principals organisation.
Paul Crone from the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals today called for "meaningful change" to Ireland's end-of-school exams system.
He asked "why do we still do this to our young people," and called it "cruel."
The Higher Education Minister Simon Harris has defended the exams:
"I don't [think it's cruel]. But I do think it's in need of reform. I did read his pieces today and thought they were very well informed but also very interesting."
"I think there has been a national obsession in this country with the points race. I think we put far too much pressure on young people."
Paul Crone says the second level curriculum sticks out when compared to previous levels:
"It's out of step with the pre-school curriculum, the primary school curriculum, the junior cycle; and then we go into senior cycle, which is in preparation for the Leaving Cert."
"Students are bascially told 'forget the way you've been learning before, forget about autonomous learning, forget about skills development - now take out your exam papers, we're preparing for the exam.
Discussion about the future of the exams come as tens of thousands of this year's Leaving Cert students will get their results on Friday.
