A Castlebar teacher is proposing ‘Open Access’ to university be used as an alternative to the traditional state exams for the Leaving Cert class of 2021.

Joe Daly is a science teacher in St Gerald’s College and he believes the Leaving Cert exams are no longer a viable option this year, considering all the time students and teachers have lost.

The ASTI member has advocated for the use of Open Access, whereby students would be awarded one of their top three CAO choices, with universities performing a matriculation process if courses are oversubscribed, similar to the HPAT for doctors.

A ‘State Certificate of Completion’ is proposed for students who are not proceeding to third level, allowing them to enter the workforce.

The Castlebar teacher says the Open Access option is on the table as an alternative to the traditional written exam format.

Joe Daly has been explaining the benefits of the process to Midwest News...