State Examinations Commission
Encyclopedia
The State Examinations Commission is the organisation that replaced the Department of Education and Science, Examinations Branch by order of the Minister for Education and Science
in the Republic of Ireland
. The Department of Education and Science was formerly called the Department of Education until 1997.
The commission oversees the state examinations at secondary education
level in the Republic of Ireland
, its offices are located in Athlone, County Westmeath
in central Ireland. The two examinations the commission oversees, accrediting and certifying them, are the:
Typically about 60,000 students present for each of these examinations each year, generally commencing on the first Wednesday of June. The commission holds the results of public examinations carried out by the Intermediate Education Board for Ireland (1879 - 1924), these include the Junior Grade, Middle Grade and Senior Grade. A list of the Departments former examinations include:
Minister for Education and Science (Ireland)
The Minister for Education and Skills is the senior minister at the Department of Education and Skills in the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Education and Skills is Ruairi Quinn, TD...
in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The Department of Education and Science was formerly called the Department of Education until 1997.
The commission oversees the state examinations at secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
level in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, its offices are located in Athlone, County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
in central Ireland. The two examinations the commission oversees, accrediting and certifying them, are the:
- Junior CertificateJunior CertificateThe Junior Certificate is an educational qualification awarded in Ireland by the Department of Education to students who have successfully completed the junior cycle of secondary education, and achieved a minimum standard in their Junior Cert. examinations...
- Leaving CertificateLeaving CertificateThe Leaving Certificate Examinations , commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert is the final examination in the Irish secondary school system. It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior...
Typically about 60,000 students present for each of these examinations each year, generally commencing on the first Wednesday of June. The commission holds the results of public examinations carried out by the Intermediate Education Board for Ireland (1879 - 1924), these include the Junior Grade, Middle Grade and Senior Grade. A list of the Departments former examinations include:
| Years | Examination |
| 1924-1991 | Intermediate Certificate |
| 1929-1967 | Primary Certificate |
| 1947-1991 | Day Vocational (Group) Certificate |