Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 Jan 1990

Vol. 395 No. 1

Written Answers. - Teaching of European Languages.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

80 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education the steps, if any, she has taken in the last four months to accelerate the provision for the teaching of European languages, other than English and Irish, in our secondary school curriculum; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

On the recommendation of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, revised syllabuses in Spanish and Italian were introduced in September 1989 and these will be examined for the first time in the new Junior Certificate examination in 1992.

Consideration is being given to the question of how best to cater for senior pupils who may wish to begin the study of a language ab initio but who would not be in a position to take on the Leaving Certificate course.

As an interim measure, I have decided that where schools so wish pupils who entered the senior cycle in September 1989 may take the Intermediate Certificate syllabus in French, German, Spanish or Italian as part of their senior cycle course. Pupils doing so will be allowed sit the Intermediate Certificate examination paper in the language studied at the time of sitting their Leaving Certificate examination and will be credited with the appropriate Intermediate Certificate grade.

In 1988-89 I introduced a scheme for the payment of part-time teaching hours to those schools who introduced an additional modern continental language into their curricula. This scheme is being continued for the current school year. Action is currently being taken in relation to the implementation of the Lingua Programme under the auspices of the European Community. This programme, which involves,inter alia, in-service training abroad for language teachers and student and teacher exchange, will enhance the standard of language teaching and learning in second level schools.