Mid-Ulster Ulster Unionist MLA Sandra Overend questioned the Education Minister John O’Dowd on the future of GCSE and A-level examinations, following his statement to the Assembly on the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) review of the qualifications.

Speaking following the Ministerial Statement to the Assembly, Mrs Overend commented,

“I asked the Education Minister on his plans for the future of GCSE and A-level exams following the publication of the CCEA report into the qualifications.

“I was particularly keen to hear his thoughts on the concerns that many have over the prospective limitation on students undertaking resits, given the potential within the English system to undertake multiple resits. This is particularly important in the cases of English and Maths, since many employers that I talk to emphasise the need for those subjects.

“I also asked the Minister what Department, public organisation or industry body will have ultimate responsibility for informing business and employers about the practical differences that there will be between the new sets of qualifications.”

Mrs Overend, who is the Ulster Unionist Party Spokesperson on the Economy, continued,

“With the Northern Ireland education system continually outperforming the rest of the UK in terms of results, I do not want to see our young people put at a disadvantage when it comes to competing for jobs or University places. This is an issue that I will continue to monitor, and will seek to promote as much as possible.

“I was encouraged to hear the Minister recognise that the education of our children is crucially connected to employers and that there needs to be good communication between them. I hope that employers contribute fully to the consultation, and that the Minister takes heed of their views in determining the best way forward.”