Vol. 395 No. 8
81 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the role of the National University of Ireland regarding (a) the drawing up of curricula and (b) the setting of examinations and the use of their results at second level; the way in which the National University of Ireland has come to have a consultative role in these matters; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
At second level, the drawing up of curricula is the responsibility of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Of the 16 members of the council, five are nominated by or representative of the Minister for Education. The remaining 11 members are nominated by representative organisations, among which universities as such are not included, although the Irish Federation of University Teachers is one of the nominating organisations.
For each subject, the task of drawing up a syllabus is entrusted by the council to a course committee. Universities are not represented on junior cycle course committees. At senior cycle, the 11 members of each course committee include one representative each of the National University of Ireland, the University of Dublin and the National Council for Educational Awards.
Traditionally, the universities had been represented on the senior cycle syllabus committees when they were reporting to the Department of Education. They were also involved in the marking procedures for the leaving certificate. These arrangements, in operation since the late 1920s, were last reviewed in 1941 and were codified and updated in 1988.
