asked the Minister for Education if he has any new plans whereby children can develop to a greater degree the basic knowledge, skill and values necessary for their individual development and their successful functioning as citizens in their society.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Child Development Plans.
43.
Mr. R. Burke
I know of no way in which the objective set out in this question can be served other than a progressive improvement in the provision for the education of our young people, in curricular content, in school organisation, in school buildings and equipment, and in teaching and other professional personnel. All of these aspects of our educational system are receiving my closest attention.
Among the improvements which I have introduced since assuming office are: the reduction of the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools; the extension of the provision for remedial teaching; the institution of arrangements whereby the training course for national teachers will, as from next year, be extended to one of three years as against the present two-year course; and the introduction of proposals for curricular development in the post-primary sector. I have further improvements in train or under consideration about which it would not be opportune to make any pronouncement as yet.