Vol. 518 No. 4
240 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education and Science the support and funding avail able for the encouragement and development of science; the criteria required to avail of such funding; the contact details for further information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11734/00]
I presume the Deputy is referring to the development of science in primary schools. All teachers in primary schools were issued with a new programme in science in September 1999 as part of the introduction of the revised curriculum. The programme is set out in two booklets a curriculum statement, incorporating the aims, objectives and content for each class level and guidelines for teachers on the teaching of the subject. The new science programme comprises four interlinked strands, namely: (1) living things; (2) energy and forces; (3) materials; and (4) environmental care.
The implementation of the revised curriculum will be on a phased basis over four to five years and will be supported by a comprehensive programme of in-career professional development for teachers. The expectation is that most schools will choose to follow the sequence of subject-areas followed in the in-career development programme from year to year. It is planned that in-career professional development in science will form part of the ongoing primary curriculum support programme in the next school year, 2000-01. However schools will be free to introduce subject areas as they see fit, taking account of the expertise and interests of their staffs.
To encourage schools to incorporate science in their curriculum, all primary schools were issued with grants in October 1999 to assist them with the purchase of science teaching equipment and materials. These grants amounted in total to approximately £1.75 million. The size of grant varied with the size of school: however a minimum grant of £400 was paid to schools of less than 50 pupils while schools of more than 500 pupils received the maximum grant of £1,000. A circular that was issued at the time indicated the types of equipment and materials that the grant could be expended upon. Schools are required to keep a record of all equipment purchased with the grant. Any queries in relation to this grant may be addressed to the primary administration section of my Department in Athlone.
