Minister Warns Return Of Exams Will Not Be 'Business As Usual'

Northern Ireland's Education Minister has announced the return of GCSE and A-Level examinations next year, however he warned it would not be "business as usual".

Mr Weir said that there would be significant reductions in assessment across a range of qualifications.

Speaking in the Assembly Mr Weir said: "I am announcing a roadmap for a return to public examinations for all CCEA Qualifications in 2022. A planned return to public examinations is not, however, a return to business as usual. 

"I am mindful of the need to consider our young people’s mental health and well-being; the many difficulties they have faced with great resilience; and the significant disruption to their learning during not one but two academic years.

"In light of this, I have decided that young people will have significantly fewer examinations next year and I am announcing a package of significant reductions in assessment across the range of CCEA qualifications."

A unit of study will be omitted from the vast majority of GCSE, AS and A Level qualifications in 2022.  Unit omissions will also be applied across CCEA Entry Level, Occupational Studies and Vocationally Related qualifications.