asked the Minister for Education when work commenced on the preparation of curricular guidelines for schools for moderately handicapped children as mentioned in his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 317 of 10 March 1981 concerning activities for the International Year of the Disabled; when he expects work to be completed; the number engaged on the work. When the new curriculum will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the importance of the curriculum.
Written Answers. - Curriculum for Moderately Handicapped Children.
377.
Guidelines on "Social and Personal Development" will be issued next autumn in connection with a review of the curriculum for pupils in schools for moderately handicapped children. These guidelines will have been drawn up by a committee originally established in 1972 and which has already issued guidelines on two other sections of the curriculum.
As some of the guidelines originally issued are being extended and strengthened it is not possible at this stage to state when work on all aspects of revision of the curriculum will be completed.
The committee, which works on a part-time basis, consists of twenty-two persons, ten of whom are officers of my Department and the other twelve comprise nine teachers and three psychologists.
I consider that the revised curriculum will be of the utmost importance in the promotion of the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, moral and aesthetic development of moderately handicapped children in connection with their assuming appropriate responsibility as adults.