asked the Minister for Education the date on which secondary schools were informed by his Department that the alternative examination in French would be available in the intermediate examination, 1975.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - French Examination.
19.
Details of the alternative examination in French to be provided at the intermediate certificate examination, 1975, were conveyed to secondary school authorities on 5th December, 1974.
In reply to supplementary questions on the same subject on an earlier date the Minister stated that he was anxious to encourage the alternative examination. Does he consider that notifying the schools in December that the alternative examination will be available the following summer could be deemed to be encouraging the examination?
Mr. R. Burke
As the Deputy will know, the 1972, 1973 and 1974 notifications were given in February, January and January respectively. As he will further know, it has been the practice in the Department to await the review of the current year's examination before issuing details for the alternative examination the following year. This year, in fact, we are a month in advance of previous practice. I think that answers the question.
The Minister will be aware that there was no doubt in the minds of the schools as to whether the alternative examination would be carried out or not during the years he has specified but there was a very considerable doubt in relation to the present year?
Mr. R. Burke
That may be so but there was no worthwhile and just reason for such doubt.
20.
asked the Minister for Education if he proposes to extend the alternative examination in French to the leaving certificate.
Mr. R. Burke
I do not propose at present to extend the alternative examination in French to the leaving certificate. The alternative examination on the intermediate certificate has been in operation since 1972 on an experimental basis only and, pending further experience, I am not in a position to consider extending it to the leaving certificate.
Is the Minister aware that in schools where the alternative examination is being carried out at present the teaching of French continued along these lines in the fifth year and it is hardly reasonable to expect the students who are following the course relating to the alternative examination to do the written examination in the leaving certificate in those circumstances?
Mr. R. Burke
The difficulties of introducing it at leaving certificate are obvious on an examination of the question which, by the way, is continuing in the Department all the time. The question of extending the mode to the leaving certificate has been given consideration in the Department and when the Department are satisfied as to the effectiveness and value of the mode in the intermediate certificate examination steps may be taken to introduce it at leaving certificate level also. This consideration has not concluded.
Would the Minister agree that an oral content in an examination of this kind is desirable?
Mr. R. Burke
I would agree with the Deputy but there are other questions which need to be investigated. For example, at the leaving certificate the problem of recognition of the mode by university authorities is important because of matriculation links between the leaving certificate and the university. The question of the reliability of teachers' evaluation at this level in assessing, for example, university scholarships and the range of linguistic skills which school-leavers will be expected to have, all these problems make the question of the alternative at leaving certificate much more complex than at intermediate level.
Is the Minister having discussions with the universities on this aspect of the matter?
Mr. R. Burke
In the context of the discussion——
Of the university aspect.
Mr. R. Burke
——about the examination board. These questions are all being looked into.
Am I to take it from the Minister's reply that the university has indicated its suspicion of the alternative method?
Mr. R. Burke
The Deputy would not be right in drawing that conclusion from my reply.
Question No. 21.
Can I take it that the university made any comment at all?