Unfair assessment process for dyslexic students requires urgent change – Lombard

Children with dyslexia in Irish primary schools are unfairly discriminated against and must be afforded the assistance they require throughout the examination process, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Speaking in the Seanad today, Senator Tim Lombard said, “Over the last few weeks, thousands of children sat the Drumcondra standardised tests in primary schools across the country.

“This testing process highlighted a major flaw in our examination system, whereby if you are a child with dyslexia, the technology you ordinarily use in your day-to-day learning is taken away from you for the duration of the exams.

“Children that are scoring in the first or third percentile for reading rely on technology to help them progress through their primary education. However, when it comes to sitting the Drumcondra exams, that assistive technology they have come to depend on is taken away from them.

“Children with dyslexia who are sitting the Maths paper are given a reader to assist them, in recognition of their reading difficulties. However, when it comes to the English paper students are left without any help whatsoever.

“Imagine the following scenario: you’re helped to read every day by your Reader Pen or iPad. You then go in to sit your Drumcondra test, your pen or iPad is taken away from you and you’re expected to take an exam that you can’t even read.

“The use of technology is absolutely transformative for these students. For example, the C-Pen Reader Pen reads text out loud for students, allowing them to learn independently and keep up with their peers. Technology is key to their success and removing it in exam settings is unfair and unacceptable.

“This is a huge flaw within our education and examination system. 10% of our school population is dyslexic, and we really have a massive issue in how we treat and cater for this cohort of students.

“The issues range from the assessment process right through to the training we are providing to our new teachers. Student teachers currently have to opt in to actually take a module on dyslexia – it’s not a mandatory aspect of the degree. This leaves many new teachers without the knowledge of the condition that is required to provide students with a high-quality education.

“How we deal with children with dyslexia in Ireland is a disgrace. We need to have a really serious conversation about how we can provide these students with the level of education they require and deserve.

“Our young people absolutely deserve better than what they are currently receiving. The Department of Education must give serious consideration to this issue and begin by providing students with the necessary assistive technology throughout the examination process,” Senator Lombard concluded.