The Higher Education Minister says students should get clarity on this year's Leaving Cert in the coming days.
Sixth years are planning protests across the country today demanding a choice between calculated grades and written exams.
A protest is currently taking place in the People's Park in Waterford, with further protests scheduled for Wexford and Carlow this afternoon, as students across the region are still left in the dark about how the 2022 Leaving Certificate examinations will be run.
Students organising in Wexford said, "We believe the wellbeing of the students should not be jeopardized in the name of tradition.
"There has been severe disruption to our learning and to even fathom running the LC this year in a traditional format is absolutely ludicrous.
"The ISSU has revealed that 68% of students are demanding a hybrid approach, the Minister and her Department must hear us and give us the opportunity of an accredited grade and the option to sit an exam."
"Enough is enough" says Arthur Pushkin, a 6th year in Newtown School and one of organisers of the Waterford protest. "Students have pushed for this approach. The stress, anxiety and uncertainty has gone on for too long.
"Time for change is now, we demand a hybrid approach and that’s what we expect"
"We are putting pressure on the Minister (for Education, Norma Foley) and we're telling her no, we've had enough, this is what we want, and this is what we demand."
A meeting of stakeholders will take place tomorrow which will consider if the hybrid model is an option, and Minister Simon Harris says there's a need for students to get an urgent solution.
"..one that reflects the fact that these students haven't had a normal Senior cycle experience, but also one that reflects the fact that many students last year chose to do the written exam.
"I think when we listened to students and listened to stakeholders last year we arrived at the right solution, and I'd hope we can provide that clarity in the coming days."
