Courses by State Examinations Commission
The State Examinations Commission makes awards for learning in school programmes – Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate.
Overview
The SEC is responsible for the development, assessment, accreditation and certification of second-level examinations in Ireland. These are the Junior Certificate and the Leaving Certificate. The State Examinations Commission is a non-departmental public body under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills. There are five Commissioners appointed by the Minister for Education and Skills.
Established in March 2003, the Commission assumed responsibility for the operation of the State Certificate Examinations from the Department of Education and Skills.
The Commission works in partnership with school authorities and education providers in order to deliver a high quality examination and assessment system that is efficient, fair and accessible. In addition, the SEC ensures that the system operates in an environment of openness, transparency and accountability.
Functions
The Commission is responsible for the operation of all aspects of the established Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, Leaving Certificate Applied and Junior Certificate Examinations. This includes written, oral, aural and practical components and assessed course work in some subjects. Two million components are examined annually. The SEC also organises certain trade and professional examinations. The individual functions involved in the operation of the examinations include:
- Preparing examination papers and other examination materials
- Determining procedures for the conduct and supervision of examinations
- Recruiting contract staff to draft and mark examination components and to superintend at the examinations
- Arranging for marking of work presented for assessment and examinations
- Issuing the results of examinations
- Determining procedures to enable the review and appeal of results of
examinations at the request of candidates
- Charging and collecting fees for examinations
- Designating examination places