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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 7

Written Answers. - Junior Cycle Technological Education.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

207 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education if, in view of (a) her request that practical subjects be reviewed at junior cycle level, (b) the subsequent preparation by the NCCA's executive of a working paper on technological education, and (c) the paper's main proposal that one practical subject only, technology, be implemented, she will outline a definition of the word technology.

The subject technology is defined in the syllabus as "the achievement of human purposes through the disciplined use of materials, energy and natural phenomena". Technology involves the study and practice of the applied sciences and the use by students of a variety of materials, components and processes in the design and manufacture of products.

In the context of revised syllabuses in material technology (wood) and technical graphics, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment was asked to review the place of these subjects in technological education and how they should relate to the subject technology.

One of the purposes of this review is to ensure that technological education would be more widely available to students irrespective of gender.

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