Pronouncing GCSEs dead is premature - Education

THE death knell has not yet sounded for GCSEs, Education said yesterday.

The department had originally refused to be drawn on the possible impact locally after plans were announced earlier this week to scrap GCSEs in England and replace them with the English Baccalaureate Certificate from 2015.

But Education minister Robert Sillars, pictured, issued a statement to explain his department's stance.

'The Education board has not yet discussed the recent announcement by the UK Education secretary regarding plans to scrap GCSEs in England in favour of a new EBacc.