MLA warns about impact of boards withdrawing exams

Lagan Valley Assembly Member Paul Givan has warned about the impact on schools and students of the decision by the two largest exam boards in England, OCR and AQA, of pulling out of providing GCSE exams in Northern Ireland.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Jan 2016, 15:10 BST
Paul GivanPaul Givan
Paul Givan

“This decision by the exam boards will leave students disadvantaged,” said Mr Givan.

“With a quarter of all GCSE exams provided by these two English Boards schools will have a major problem in finding alternative courses or they will have to reduce the range of courses currently available for students to choose from.

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“Essentially now a monopoly exists in Northern Ireland with CCEA the only provider available and the range of courses available will now be limited. My Party engaged with the education sector on this issue and warned the Minister that this could happen if Northern Ireland did not accommodate the changes to the grading system taking place in England.

“Sadly because of the Education Minister’s inflexibility and a misplaced belief that there was nothing to be worried about this situation has now developed. It is for the Minister to take action and my party will be pressing him to take decisive action.”

Related topics:Paul GivanEnglandNorthern Ireland