Education Minister to announce plans for summer exams 2021

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Tuesday, 15 December 2020 07:47

By Grainne Connolly

by Q Radio News

Stormont's Education Minister Peter Weir is to set out plans today for school exam arrangements next summer.

There have been calls for traditional exams to be scrapped because of the impact of covid-19, following similar moves by the Welsh and Scottish government's.

Whilst the tests are set to go ahead here, they will take place one week later than usual.

Minister Weir is expected to make a statement with further details in the Assembly later today.

Schools in Northern Ireland were closed from mid-March until the end of August 2020 in a bid to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Some online teaching took place but some pupils have also missed time in class since schools reopened due to self-isolating, after being identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive for covid-19.

In England, exams are still set to go ahead in summer 2021 but measures like more generous grading and advance notice of topics have already been announced.

More to follow.