Courts / Dublin / Report

Court rejects student's challenge against Leaving Cert Chinese

Summary

The High Court dismissed a secondary school student's claim that the Leaving Certificate Mandarin Chinese marking scheme discriminates against those who use traditional Chinese characters. The student, a Taiwanese-born learner taught in traditional characters, alleged that exam markers would refuse to accept traditional characters and that the curriculum required simplified characters, thereby disadvantaging him. He also claimed the Minister for Education had unlawfully consulted with the Chinese Ministry of Education and that the Chinese Embassy was drawing up the curriculum. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Garrett Simons, rejected all allegations, stating the student failed to show the marking scheme breached the 1998 Education Act. The judge noted that traditional characters are not deemed incorrect, that the marking scheme allocates only 15‑20% of marks to written Mandarin, and that all candidates are assessed objectively against the same syllabus and marking scheme. The respondents denied any flaw or discrimination in the examination.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Court rejects student's challenge against Leaving Cert Chinese. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• 2024-05-29 Publication

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

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Read the original CNI report