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Nestius-Brown urges O'Dowd to consider changes to GCSEs

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Tuesday, 18 September, 2012
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NI Conservatives’ education spokesperson, Annika Nestius-Brown, has welcomed Michael Gove’s plans to replace GCSEs in core subjects in England, and urged the education minister in Northern Ireland to consider changing the system in Northern Ireland.

“Increasingly employers and universities view GCSEs as a devalued qualification”, Annika explained.  “So it is absolutely right that the government is going to act, in order to equip young people to compete in a global market for jobs and education.  I would urge John O’Dowd to work swiftly to ensure that pupils in Northern Ireland are not left behind.”

“It is absolutely necessary that the exams which children sit at age 16 ensure every student receives an outstanding education, which offers the best prospects for the future.  It is also imperative that the system is able to identify and reward academic excellence, particularly in core subjects.”

“The perception has flourished among employers and universities that this is no longer the case with GCSEs.  Their modular structure, the emphasis on course-work - which can be reviewed by teachers and resubmitted multiple times - and the staggering proportion of As and A*s achieved by candidates, are not permitting the best students to shine.”

“As NI Conservatives we believe that every pupil should receive an excellent education, but we also believe that academic ability should be recognised and rewarded.  Michael Gove’s plans have the potential to do just that and it is imperative that the executive watches developments closely, so that Northern Ireland develops the best exam system possible and maintains its competitiveness.”

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