Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 November 2023
82. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education for an update on the additional allocation for curricular reforms, including funding for the accelerated roll out of the senior cycle redevelopment programme and the delivery of additional physical activity initiatives in schools that she announced as part of budget 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52747/23]
View answerI am pleased to have the opportunity to outline some of the important work that will be facilitated by the funding I secured in this year’s budget.
In Budget 2024, I secured additional funding of €6 million for the further implementation of my ambitious programme for the redevelopment of Senior Cycle. To progress this important programme, additional funding is being provided to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), the State Examinations Commission (SEC), and Oide.
In September I announced a significant acceleration of the Senior Cycle redevelopment programme enabling over 120,000 additional students to experience the benefits of Senior Cycle Redevelopment sooner than otherwise would have been the case.
The redeveloped Senior Cycle will enable students to follow a broad curriculum, develop their interests and skills and participate in a final assessment process consistent with international best practice, which will support them in their next phase of life whether that is third level, further education and training, apprenticeships, or the world of work.
Thanks to this acceleration, beginning in 2025 students will now be able to benefit from the fast-tracked rollout of new subject curricula nationally including Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Business— two years earlier than had been previously planned. Two new Leaving Certificate subjects, Drama, Film and Theatre Studies; and Climate Action and Sustainable Development, will also be introduced from 2025 on a phased basis.
Subject development groups within the NCCA’s structures are currently progressing the new and revised curricula. Development will continue into 2024 and will be completed in time for their introduction to schools in 2025.
These new and revised subjects will incorporate SEC externally-assessed components outside of traditional written exams, to be worth at least 40% of the available marks.
Furthermore, a revised Transition Year Programme Statement is currently being finalised for introduction in schools in 2024.
The additional funding secured in Budget 2024 will support this development work, as well as the development and provision of teacher professional learning to support the introduction of the revised Transition Year Programme Statement and the new and revised subjects.
The new Primary Curriculum Framework, the first ever curriculum framework for primary education in Ireland, will shape the work of all primary and special schools for the coming years. The primary curriculum specifications will be available for the 2025/2026 school year.
In the area of physical activity, an additional €500,000 has been provided in Budget 2024 to support the delivery of physical activity initiatives in schools.
This will support the expansion of the Active School Flag programme in primary and post-primary schools, as part of an increase in the allocation for 2024 to over €400,000, up from €214,000 this year.
This year’s funding also provides €200,000 for a pilot initiative on facilitating increased activity in teaching and learning, which is currently in development.
These measures are designed to support the delivery of physical activity initiatives in schools alongside continued delivery of the Physical Education curricula and to promote the personal health and wellbeing of our young people.
In addition to the additional investment announced in the Budget for curricular reforms, my Department continues to provide a suite of professional learning opportunities to support schools in relation to other curricular and educational reforms already underway including Junior Cycle reform and the primary language and maths curricula and wellbeing strategy, for example.
