The Children\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Deputy Cummins said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need this review published immediately, alongside a clear plan to expand and properly fund these services like the School Completion Programme.<\/p>\n
“The School Completion programme funding and governance review has been long ignored by Governments creating incredibly slow improvements. This must be addressed with urgency.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite some progress, the Leaving Certificate remains a high-pressure, points-driven system where a few exams determine a student\u2019s future – that is not fair and not fit for purpose.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cReform 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cProgress 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
March 24th, 2026<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Children\u2019s 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: \u201cThe Report Card highlights ongoing concerns around school completion, pointing to the continued delay in publishing the Review of Out-of-School Education Provision, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":12900,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[540,218,581,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16603","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-children","category-education","category-jen-cummins","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n