asked the Minister for Education if his Department will sanction the hours of teaching computer studies for payment of incremental salary.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Computer Studies.
10.
This matter is under consideration at present in the context of the rules and programme for secondary schools.
Is the Minister aware that the society in question submitted a syllabus two years ago? It has been under consideration by his Department for that length of time. Does he not think it is about time a decision was given in the matter? It seems most peculiar that we do not have a computer study programme in this country in our post-primary schools. Does the Minister agree that we should have such a course?
I will take the Deputy's word for it that there was a submission in 1976 and I am personally interested in it. There are some technical problems as to whether, for example, the studies should be independent or should form part of a mathematics or statistics programme. It is not simple. I must be advised by my officials as to which is the best system. There are about 50 schools, secondary and vocational, working on computer studies at the moment.