My Department's Curriculum Unit published in December 1983 a review of the transition year project (1974-1983) and of the then pre-employment courses, now called Vocational Preparation and Training Courses. The reviews greatly aided the revamping of these programmes when they were made more widely available in recent years. My Department commissioned a survey in 1985 by the ESRI on the VPT programmes operated during 1984-85. The ESRI has again been commissioned to conduct a follow-up survey of participants in the Vocational Preparation and Training Programmes in the school year 1987-88 and of principals of the schools providing the programmes. A draft report is in course of preparation and the result will be published as soon as possible.
Special measures to assist national schools in disadvantaged areas have been operative since 1984. In 1986 and 1989 systematic internal reviews were conducted by my Department's inspectorate on the basis of completed questionnaires and observation. The results show that grants for books and materials made a significant impact and that many schools had initiated home/school/community liaison programmes. The programmes for future years will take into account the findings of the results.
Specific research is not currently being undertaken by my Department in relation to remedial teaching but the position is being kept under review by my Department's inspectorate.
The question of attainment levels in the certificate examinations in comparison to those in other countries is a matter to which the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment will be devoting attention.
