Dramatic changes to the Leaving Cert. timetable, including the possibility for Saturday exams, must be in place before June 2008. That's according to Galway West Deputy, Frank Fahey, who has welcomed the latest proposal to overhaul the timetable.

The measures have been designed to relieve the handwriting load imposed on students. The State Examinations Commission has agreed to implement a fundamental rescheduling of examinations in the first week of the timetable. This will allow students to take a mix of examinations each day. For example, subjects which require an essay-type answer will be mixed with subjects demanding a mathematic or scientific answer.

Education Minister, Mary Hanafin has asked the State Examinations Commission to explore the option of scheduling a popular examination such as English Paper one on a Saturday in May, so that further rebalancing of the June timetable can be undertaken.

"The changes Education Minister Mary Hanafin is introducing for 2008 will make the early days of the timetable more student-friendly by reducing both the handwriting loan and the time spent in the exam hall," said Deputy Fahey.

"The stress caused by the placement of double-paper exams, such as English, Irish, and Maths, at the very start of the Leaving Cert. timetable needs to be reduced.

"So, Minister Hanafin's reforms in this area are very welcome. A number of other factors continue to impact on the formulation of the Leaving Cert. timetable, which need attention, such as the introduction of additional practical elements and the planned increase in marks for oral Irish. "I believe these changes will reduce undue stress on students at a very difficult time in their lives and help them to fully realise their potential in preparation for the working world," said Deputy Fahey.

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