Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Nov 1968

Vol. 237 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Intermediate French Examination.

54.

Mr. S.D. Barrett

asked the Minister for Education if, since the commencement of the school year 1968-69, he has altered the programme for the intermediate French examination for June 1969 in respect of prose text books, poetry text books and examination syllabus prescribed and published in the Rules and Programmes for Secondary Schools, 1968-69; and, if so, when he (a) prescribed the programme, text books and examination syllabus for the June, 1969 examination, (b) decided to alter the programme and (c) notified the secondary schools of the alterations.

55.

Mr. S.D. Barrett

asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that a text book entitled Intermediate French Poems prescribed for 1969-1970 was published by reputable Irish schoolbook publishers who based the publication on his published Rules and Programmes for Secondary Schools, 1968-69 early in October, 1968, and was widely purchased by and on behalf of pupils; and that, as a result of subsequent notification to the schools of his decision to alter the French poetry programme for the intermediate examination to be held in 1969, the book is now useless to those who purchased it for purposes of study for the 1969 examination; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

56.

Mr. S.D. Barrett

asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that acting on the Rules and Programmes for Secondary Schools 1968-69 published by him many parents of pupils intending to sit for the June, 1969 intermediate certificate examination in French purchased the text books of prose and poetry specifically prescribed in these rules; that these text books of prose and poetry are, owing to alterations by him in the programme and syllabus, useless to such students; and that the alteration has caused much unnecessary expense to those who purchased the books; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Mr. Sweetman

The Minister for Industry and Commerce always seems to be losing his Questions—the other day also.

Minister for Industry and Commerce (Mr. Colley)

Incidentally that was on the last occasion when Deputy Sweetman was trying to allege information that turned out to be incorrect, as he will recall.

Mr. Sweetman

No, correct. It was executed on 19th September.

Mr. Colley

The draft was made——

Mr. Sweetman

The binding agreement was executed on the 19th September. So the solicitor telephoned and told me.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Colley (for the Minister for Education)

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take questions Nos. 54, 55 and 56 together. The poems prescribed for the Intermediate Certificate Examination in French for 1969 and 1970 are selected partly from the Anthology "Filíocht Mheánteistiméireachta" which has been in use in secondary school for many years and partly from the "Penguin Book of French Verse, 20th Century." I have not altered the programme for the Intermediate French Examination for June, 1969, in respect of prose texts, poetry texts and examination syllabus prescribed and published in the "Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools for 1968/69" except in relation to the oral test mentioned therein.

I decided to use a school assessment as a method of evaluating oral proficiency instead of an oral test, and notified secondary schools accordingly in October, 1968. It is not intended that there should be any alteration in the course to be studied. Students are still expected to study the prescribed prose and poetry, and the relevant text books will be required by them