The existing syllabi at all levels of the educational system make considerable provision for the inclusion of the European dimension. New syllabi are being introduced on a gradual basis and a conscious effort is being made to afford more overt treatment to the European dimension. The most recent example of this is the new junior certificate in which the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment have placed strong emphasis on the development of European awareness in drawing up the new syllabi. Of the new syllabi, history, geography and business studies have a particular important role to play in promoting the European dimension in education. When the NCCA will commence work on the reform of the leaving certificate syllabi, the same principle will obtain. At primary level, the NCCA will adopt the same approach when introducing changes to the primary school curriculum. The NCCA will be targeting the core subjects of Irish, English and mathematics but it is in the subject area of social and environmental studies that the European dimension can perhaps be best emphasised.
I attach considerable importance to the European dimension in higher education. The mobility of students and teachers in higher education has been facilitated by active participation of the institutions in EC-sponsored programmes such as ERASMUS and COMETT. It is also important that the higher education institutions are made aware of the need to prepare students, especially those who cannot participate on the international mobility programmes, for the consequences of the completion of the internal market.
The European Schools Day Competition, which is organised annually by my Department, aims to focus the attention of pupils and teachers on European integration. Valuable travel prizes are awarded to senior cycle prize winners. The travel prizes enable the young people involved to travel to prize winners gatherings throughout Europe. Each gathering provides the participants with the opportunity of learning about Europe by taking part in a range of educational, cultural and social activities. Each year travel prizes are awarded to 16 senior cycle students at a cost of £8,500 (1991 rates).