Hi, my petition here is asking for the 2022 junior cycle  to be cancelled. The current third years have arguable being the most affected year by covid. They have yet to complete a full or normal year in school. In 2020 their first year of school they missed from match 12th to the end of the year. In 2021 they missed from January 6th to April 12th.

The current tys didn’t have to do the junior cert. The current second years only missed one year and the first years have missed no secondary school. They are stressed, anxious and no one is talking to them or taking them seriously. The older years and adults just tell them it’s a piece of cake and it’s not hard. Ignoring the fact they too were terrified going into it and none of them have experienced anything like it at all. They are left alone and anxious.

They haven’t being able to do practical work in their choice subjects because of online learning and covid regulations. In art 100% of their grade is practical and in engineering 50% is practical. Both students and teachers have realised the government doesn’t care about them or the junior cert as no talk about it has happened, no accommodations have happened and you have refused to realise the Grading system for subjects like religion which have never even being tested on the new junior cycle. They are being treated like Guinea pigs.

The fact the government is willing to sacrifice the physical and mental wellbeing of their adolescence speaks volume and in my opinion is very sad and disrespectful. 

In conclusion the government must cancel the 2022 junior cycle for the safety and well-being Irelands students. Being in school just isn’t safe and we don’t feel safe.