The Children’s Rights Alliance Report Card makes clear that students and their families are still facing excessive pressure and insufficient supports, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins TD.
Deputy Cummins said:
“The Report Card highlights ongoing concerns around school completion, pointing to the continued delay in publishing the Review of Out-of-School Education Provision, awarding the Government a D grade for its shortcomings.
“The Government has been sitting on this review for too long. Out-of-school supports are essential to keeping young people engaged in education, particularly those at risk of falling behind.
“We need this review published immediately, alongside a clear plan to expand and properly fund these services like the School Completion Programme.
“The School Completion programme funding and governance review has been long ignored by Governments creating incredibly slow improvements. This must be addressed with urgency.
“Without strong, accessible supports beyond the classroom, efforts to tackle educational disadvantage will fall short – if we are serious about improving school completion rates, out-of-school education cannot be treated as an add-on. It must be a core part of the system.
“The Report Card also underlines the need to go further and faster on Senior Cycle reform, particularly in reducing reliance on high-stakes exams and reforming the CAO system, for which the Government was also awarded a D grade.
“Despite some progress, the Leaving Certificate remains a high-pressure, points-driven system where a few exams determine a student’s future – that is not fair and not fit for purpose.
“We cannot ignore the level of stress our students are under. A system that puts this much pressure on young people needs to change. These high stakes exams are unnecessary in a modern society, oral exams should be moved out of Easter break, and pressure must be eased on our young people.
“Reform must mean real change for students with less pressure, more opportunity, and a system that recognises different talents – a points race should no longer define access to higher education.
“Progress in educational reforms is too slow, with many students being left behind. The Government must now publish the Review of Out-of-School Education Provision and build an education system that truly supports every child.”
March 24th, 2026