To ask the Minister for the Economy what tariff will be allocated for all exams and coursework at further education colleges and universities to ensure the impact of COVID-19 is taken into account when calculating grades.

There are no plans at present to apply a discrete COVID-19 tariff for assessment units.

The normal ‘special consideration’ arrangements for learners will apply in those qualifications where assessments are going ahead. This special considerations process caters for learners who are unable to take assessments due to illness.

CCEA Regulation is working with OFQUAL, Qualifications Wales and the relevant awarding organisations to ensure NI learners are not disadvantaged in any arrangements implemented by awarding organisations. Regulators and awarding organisations are aware of the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning. A range of adaptations and flexibilities have been introduced in vocational qualifications to address the challenges posed by the pandemic.

The priority for all awarding organisations is to ensure that learners receive fair and equitable results that allow for due consideration of progression pathways, whether that be to further study or employment.

CCEA Regulation maintains regular contact with University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and Irish Universities Association (IUA), and in particular Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster. All are acutely aware of the impact of COVID-19 and CCEA Regulation will continue to work with them and all relevant stakeholders to ensure progression pathways are open to learners following Summer 2021 awarding.

However, ultimately universities are autonomous institutions and therefore responsible for their own policies and procedures regarding examinations and coursework assessment. The Department has no remit in this matter. How the Universities take into account the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic when calculating grades will be a matter for each institution to decide.