In 1929, an optional exam was introduced for primary school pupils. It was called the 'Primary Cert'. To get the certificate children could do tests in sixth class in subjects such as Irish , English, History, Geography, Mathematics and Needlework for girls.
A sample Primary Certificate
Would you like to do a test like this in sixth class? If you could do the test, what subjects would you like to do a written exam in?
A sample Primary Certificate
A sample Primary Certificate
Would you like to do a test like this in sixth class? If you could do the test, what subjects would you like to do a written exam in?
If they passed, they received a certificate which they might use to get a job. In 1943, all pupils in sixth class had to sit the tests for the Primary Certificate but only in three subjects Irish, English and Arithmetic. The test was abolished in 1967.
The Primary Certificate was sent to all children who passed. The pass rate was 70% to 80%. Look at this example of a Primary Certificate. What year did the child do the test?