HC Deb 21 September 1909 vol 11 cc227-9
Mr. BOLAND (for Mr. Thomas O'Donnell)

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can explain the very low marks awarded to Irish and the high marks awarded to German in the recent intermediate examinations in Ireland; and whether, as a large number of students who took Irish were debarred from getting exhibitions owing to this system of marking, the Board intended this to discourage students from taking Irish in future?

Mr. CHERRY

The Commissioners of Intermediate Education inform me that the marks awarded in Irish and in German are in accordance with the judgment of the examiners in those subjects. The Board do not interfere with the discretion of the examiners with regard to their awards beyond prescribing the standard percentages for passing and for honours, and the distribution of marks as between the sub-divisions of the subjects. The standards are the same for all languages, and were prescribed for the recent examination in the rules and programme which were presented to Parliament in 1908. The total number of exhibitions allocated to the modern literary course, first division (Irish and French or German), was 44, while the number allocated to the second division (French and German) was 49.

Mr. BOLAND

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how it is that this year for the first time this extraordinary discrepancy has taken place, and whether, as a matter of fact, this difficulty was brought to the notice of the Chief Secretary when the new rule was introduced last year, and that what was expected has taken place?

Mr. CHERRY

The only explanation I can give is that it must be that the examiners in Irish were more severe this year than formerly or that the candidates were nor so well qualified.

Mr. BOLAND

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that the examiners in German may have been more easy?

Mr. CHERRY

That may be so. I know nothing of these gentlemen.

Mr. JOYCE

Perhaps they fear a German invasion in the near future.

Mr. JOHN MURPHY

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, having regard to the request of all the public schools in Ireland, he will ask the Commissioners to have a re-examination in the matter of Irish, as it is most important?

Mr. CHERRY

It is not at all likely that they will consent to have a re-examination. I do not think it is possible, because it would involve the expenditure of a large sum of money and cause a great deal of trouble. Candidates would have to be brought up from all parts of Ireland.

Mr. JOHN MURPHY

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the Papers are in the hands of the examiners, and that the re-examination of them would not involve the attendance of the candidates? The principle on which the marks were given would seem to have been unprecedented.

Mr. CHERRY

Does the hon. Member mean the re-examination merely of the papers by the examiners? I do not think there would be any difficulty about that.

Mr. JOHN MURPHY

Yes. Will the right hon. Gentleman ask the Commissioners to do so?

Mr. CHERRY

I will.