asked the Minister for Education whether the introduction of the intermediate examination into the vocational schools will in any way interfere with the group certificate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Vocational Schools Intermediate Examination.
47.
Under the new arrangements the Intermediate Certificate is being opened to students of vocational schools who will have followed an approved course of three years duration.
Revisions of the syllabuses for the Group Certificate, for which the course is a two years one, have been drafted so as to bring them into harmony with the changes recently made in the Intermediate Certificate course.
These draft revisions will very shortly be the subject of consultations between the Department and the other organisations concerned.
The result will be that a student who, as heretofore, may complete the Group Certificate course and take the Group Certificate Examination in two years, may now, on completion of a further year, be eligible to sit for the Intermediate Certificate Examination.
In addition, students who fail at the Intermediate Certificate Examination but qualify in the subjects required for the Group Certificate, will, if they so desire, be awarded the Group Certificate.
Could the Minister say if this will call for extra teachers and accommodation in the schools?
Is the Deputy referring to the common intermediate certificate?
Yes.
The group certificate will not make any real difference. There will be some changes in the course but those at present dealing with this matter will be able to deal with it in the light of changes to be made. As regards the common intermediate certificate, it is probable that in a few years time more teachers will certainly be needed because there will be more students following that course, but at present it is impossible for me to state in this specific case whether more teachers will be needed. The Deputy will be aware that I have asked the authorities of the vocational schools to consult with the secondary schools to see to what extent they can cater for this. In the past where consultations have taken place the results have been satisfactory.
Is the Minister aware of the anxiety on the part of some vocational teachers that manual subjects will suffer because of this? They feel that less attention will be devoted to technical subjects such as engineering and woodwork.
I am aware that some people have this fear. It is unfounded as is also the fear that the standard in those subjects will go down. I cannot believe that there is any basis for that fear.
Can the Minister say if the introduction of the certificate this year will mean that a pupil already started on the course will have no choice of subjects in regard to the intermediate examination and whether the teachers who are preparing pupils for the group certificate will have a disadvantage as regards the intermediate certificate? Will the pupils commencing this year be at a disadvantage as well if they sit for the intermediate examination?
I am not aware of what the Deputy says being the case. The position is that the course in regard to the common intermediate certificate is starting in September of this year. It may be that the Deputy has in mind that those who have already started on the course for the group certificate may find that that course is not quite adequate in relation to the course for the intermediate certificate. This could happen whenever a change is made and is something which cannot be avoided.
Could the Minister say if any steps can be taken to ensure that those who have already commenced the course with regard to the group certificate, and who may wish to take the intermediate certificate, will not suffer because they have already started on this course?
There has been a considerable amount of notice of the introduction of this common intermediate certificate. If I get details of the people who are in the difficulty suggested by the Deputy, I shall see if I can do anything to meet the situation.