SDLP Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin
She has also sought clarity regarding the cancellation of repeat exams in May and whether pupils will be able to sit these next year.
Said the Foyle MLA: “Minister Weir is leaving too many of our young people in limbo.
“He has failed to provide any clarity to students wising to re-sit exams that were cancelled in May 2020.
“Moreover, students who had paid significant fees to repeat AS exams in May are still without a refund and have not yet been told whether they will be allowed to sit those repeat exams next year.
“I submitted a written Assembly question to the Education Minister on this issue and received an unsatisfactory response.
“He simply stated that CCEA is considering fees and will prepare an options paper for his department.
“Only after this paper is considered, can he decide whether fees will be waived or honoured.
“Notably, the Minister failed to provide a time frame for this decision.
“This is simply unacceptable. 2020 has been a year filled with uncertainty, with young people amongst the groups hardest hit by this pandemic, and now the Minister is causing additional stress.”
She added: “I have since submitted a follow-up question to the Education Minister, asking when an options paper on this will be submitted to, and considered by, his department.
“I have also contacted CCEA to establish what their target date for submission is.
“Minister Weir needs to understand that his delayed decision-making has a real impact on real people, who have been forced to put their futures on hold.
“I am particularly concerned about the impact that this will have upon young people’s mental health.
“Our young people deserve better.”
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