The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘the Commission’) has welcomed the agreement of the State Examinations Commission (SEC) to prepare and implement an Equality Action Plan aimed at strengthening equality of access to State examinations for students with visual impairments.
The Commission received an Equality Review conducted by the SEC on 22 April 2025, following an invitation issued by the Commission under section 32 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. The Equality Review examined the operation of the SEC’s Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations (RACE) Scheme, with a particular focus on the experiences of candidates with visual impairments.
Having considered the findings of the Equality Review, the Commission has formally invited the SEC to prepare and implement an Equality Action Plan. We are delighted that the SEC has agreed to undertake this next statutory step.
An Equality Action Plan is a programme of actions designed to further the promotion of equality of opportunity within an organisation and to address barriers experienced by individuals and groups protected under equality legislation.
In inviting the preparation of the Equality Action Plan, the Commission has identified a number of priority areas to be addressed, including the design of modified examination papers, the provision and delivery of digital examination papers, the accessibility of application procedures, consistency of treatment for all students with visual impairments, and the accessibility of information published by the SEC.
The Commission has also requested that the Equality Action Plan be developed in consultation with students with visual impairments, representative organisations, schools and other relevant stakeholders, and that it set out specific, measurable and time-bound actions with clear responsibility for implementation.
Chief Commissioner Liam Herrick said:
“State exams are stressful enough without added barriers. A student’s success should be based on their ability and hard work, and not their disability. The Equality Review highlights real challenges for students with visual impairments, and we welcome the State Examinations Commission’s commitment to an Equality Action Plan as an important step toward fair and equal access for all students.”