Chaos in secondary-school examinations and fuel prices

1. Chaos in the digital marking of secondary-school examinations

The Government dislikes the description of the process for digitising and marking secondary-school examinations as “chaos”. Its attempt to challenge that interpretation is understandable, yet no alternative account is convincing. Infopédia defines “chaos” as “disorder; turmoil; confusion”. Anyone who has followed events over recent weeks can see how accurately those words apply, including supporters of digitisation and the new procedures.

It is possible to trust both the process and the Government, but there is no point in denying what has happened. The scenes of the past two days - headteachers being threatened on television, schools blamed for delays in sending examination papers, results posted late into the night, and pupils left anxious while their grades remained unresolved - fit the definition of “chaos”.

Everyone reasonable hopes the storm will pass and that Higher Education applications will proceed without disruption. However, whether through audits or parliamentary inquiries, it is essential to establish what went wrong and determine the technical and political responsibilities.

2. Fuel prices and the wider economic threat

Another crisis is hanging over the country, and it will worsen tomorrow as fuel prices rise. Diesel and petrol are once again reaching the two-euro mark. Although the immediate impact will be felt in the budgets of millions of people, the medium-term risks are more severe.

When energy costs rise and remain high, prices increase throughout the economy, intensifying inflation. That leads to higher interest rates, makes mortgage payments harder for citizens to meet, and complicates access to finance for businesses. The cost of living climbs while the economy slows.

The Environment Minister’s suggestion of setting fuel prices is provided for by law and could prove useful. Its effect would be limited, however, and it would not shield us from Trump’s unpredictability, a war with no end in sight, and economic “chaos”, which is almost always followed by social disorder and political confusion.