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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 7

Written Answers. - Promoting European Dimension in Education.

Tomás MacGiolla

Question:

223 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Education if she will outline, in view of the Resolution adopted at the Council of Ministers meeting of 24 May 1988 on the European dimension of education, the action which has been taken to ensure a greater understanding of varying European cultures among pupils in this country; and the financial provision which has been made to encourage contacts and meetings across borders between pupils and teachers from different member states.

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).

The colleges and agencies responsible for providing pre-service and in-service education for teachers devote considerable attention to European affairs in their courses. My Department have made a grant available this year to Mary Immaculate Training College in Limerick to assist an exchange project of one month's duration to prepare student teachers for developing a basic curriculum on the European dimension in primary schools. A grant was made available to the Teachers' Centre in Drumcondra as a contribution to the running of a European Conference on "Integration and Change — Professional Development of Teachers in Europe". My Department have also set funds aside to enable five teachers' centres to promote greater awareness of the European Dimension in Education.
In view of our geographical peripherality, it is necessary that every opportunity be afforded to our young people and their teachers open up their minds to the challenges and opportunities offered by the European dimension.
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