Dublin: Ireland is taking its first formal steps toward integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the assessment of national examinations, including the Leaving Certificate, as part of a broader strategy to modernize the education system.
The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has allocated €100,000 to fund a comprehensive year-long research project that will explore the potential use of AI in exam marking. The initiative aims to examine both the opportunities and challenges posed by AI in education, particularly in addressing examiner shortages that have caused delays in the release of results in recent years.
The research team will conduct both desk-based and field research, culminating in a final report to the SEC. The report must address four key questions, including how AI is currently being used in similar contexts globally, and how it could be responsibly and effectively implemented in Ireland. The final submission must also include practical examples and case studies.
Mixed Reactions from the Education Sector
The proposal has sparked divided opinions among examiners and educators. While some welcome the move as a long-overdue modernisation effort, others are cautious, expressing concerns about over-reliance on technology and the potential marginalisation of teacher expertise.
Despite this, the SEC views AI as a potential solution to persistent logistical challenges, such as the ongoing shortage of qualified examiners, which has contributed to delays in the release of both senior and junior cycle examination results.
The commission envisions a collaborative AI evaluation model that still involves teachers, rather than fully automating the grading process. A particular focus of the study will be the use of generative AI, a branch of AI that can generate human-like content in response to prompts—ChatGPT being one of the most widely known examples.
By integrating generative AI into exam evaluation, the SEC hopes to significantly reduce the time lag between students sitting their exams and receiving their results, while maintaining the accuracy and fairness of assessments.
This move follows previous government discussions around the possibility of removing teacher-based assessments from classrooms and replacing them with AI-driven methods.
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