The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union held a virtual Symposium to launch their Senior Cycle Reform Report. The ISSU has been consulting with students, education stakeholders and representative groups in the creation of this new Senior Cycle Reform Report. The new report was launched by former Minister of Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn. Participants of the survey are students from 32 ISSU member schools across the country. The survey sample is representative of the school and student make-up of Ireland, and both 5th and 6th year groups were invited to complete the survey. The Senior Cycle Reform Report will form the basis for future lobbying by the ISSU on the issue of Senior Cycle Reform.
Speaking ahead of the launch, ISSU Education Officer Alicia O’Sullivan stated, “Covid-19 has had a huge impact on second-level students across the country, and has exposed very serious inequalities that have been around for a long time. The ISSU have been advocating for this reform for a long time and if there was ever a perfect time for it to happen, it is now. Student voice needs to be included in all conversations and this brings those voices front and centre.”
The ISSU has published this report to represent and uplift students’ views on Senior Cycle Reform.