WELSH schools are facing up to the prospect of having a separate exam system to neighbouring England.
Any move away from the traditional GCSE and A-level qualification system is sure to provoke widespread debate in Wales but the prospect is a distinct possibility following comments from Michael Gove, the Government's Education Secretary.
In a letter to the education ministers of Wales and Northern Ireland, Mr Gove said that it is time for them to go a separate way on GCSEs and A-levels.
He labelled it "a natural and legitimate consequence of devolution".
The Welsh Government has to take urgent steps to ensure confidence in the Welsh exam system, according to Plaid Cymru.
Shadow Education Minister Simon Thomas, of Plaid, said: "I have tabled an emergency question in the Senedd to get a discussion on the next steps for Wales. The Welsh Government must take urgent steps to ensure confidence in the system.
"Plaid Cymru is calling for the creation of Examinations Wales as an independent regulator as soon as possible to ensure confidence in the system and ensure standards do not fall."
Roberto De Benedictis, who is a teacher at Llangatwg Comprehensive School, divisional secretary of the Tawe Afan Nedd branch of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and elected member of the General Teaching Council, said: "It has got to the stage that England are going it alone, they have a curriculum, different inspection system, academies and own qualifications, employers and higher education are going to be totally confused. It is fine if you want to remain in Wales but not if you want to go further afield."
Pointing to the highly successful education system in Finland, he added: "Those who run education in Finland are teachers not politicians.
"The people who should be leading our educational system are the teachers, those making the decisions don't know what they are talking about, they have never been in the classroom."
