As cases rise to about 4,000 a day, leading to school closures, 6th years are still required to go to school. All other students are now safe while leaving cert students risk bringing COVID-19 home to sick family.

Classrooms are overcrowded with up to 30 people in each class, leaving no room for “2 meters” social distancing.  It is appalling that the board of education cannot come up with a way for leaving cert students to learn properly from home temporarily (as all other students in secondary school are), protecting our safety.

Aside from our health and our families health not being considered, it is clear that the well-being and mental health of 6th years is also not being taken into consideration as there has been no clarification on how to prepare, taking orals, practicals and projects into account.

A suggestion would be to carry out classes and school days as normal, following the timetable, and attendance being taken, however, on an online platform such as zoom.