Vol. 411 No. 7
22 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the grave dissatisfaction among parents, teachers and students at the recent issue of sample papers in English, Irish and technology, among other subjects, for the junior certificate examination in June; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
38 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the grave dissatisfaction among parents, teachers and students at the recent issue of sample papers in English, Irish and technology, among other subjects, for the junior certificate examination in June; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
75 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the grave dissatisfaction among parents, teachers and students at the recent issue of sample papers in English, Irish and technology, among other subjects, for the junior certificate examination in June; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
82 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the grave dissatisfaction among parents, teachers and students at the recent issue of sample papers in English, Irish and technology, among other subjects, for the junior certificate examination in June; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
88 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the grave dissatisfaction among parents, teachers and students at the recent issue of sample papers in English, Irish and technology, among other subjects, for the junior certificate examination in June; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
91 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the grave dissatisfaction among parents, teachers and students at the recent issue of sample papers in English, Irish and technology, among other subjects, for the junior certificate examination in June; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 38, 75, 82, 88 and 91 together.
The overall content of the sample papers is drawn in the main from the original draft sample papers submitted by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in May 1990. The sample papers also took account of feedback to my Department following in-service training courses for teachers in regard to the new junior certificate course. The course committees who are responsible——
There is noise around the House.
They are not very interested in education at the moment.
The Minister is anxious to get out of Education herself.
Ciúnas.
The course committees who are responsible for drawing up the sample papers are composed of representatives of management, teacher unions, subject association representatives and my Department's inspectorate. Teachers have been asked to use the sample papers with their pupils so that constructive observations and comments will be forthcoming on the two upcoming in-service days. These comments will be taken into account in the preparation of the final examination papers.
Is the Minister aware that there is considerable disquiet among teachers, pupils and parents about the sample papers which have issued for the junior certificate, particularly those for Irish and English, in that they bear little relationship to those which were agreed by the course committees? With a mere six months to go before the holding of this new examination, it is very unfair to people that they do not know where exactly they are headed in relation to those subjects.
As the Deputy will be aware, the formulation and development of the junior certificate is of an evolutionary nature. I accept that reservations have been expressed about the changed format and altered questions in some, but not all, of the sample papers. In that regard the Deputy will note that the NCCA are an advisory body to me and the majority of these papers have been drawn up by representative interests. I intend to raise the question raised by the Deputy in a round of meetings on the junior certificate which will begin next week.
When will the new sample papers, mark 3 issue? The first round of sample papers were discarded, the second round are not relevant to the course and we are now awaiting the third round. When will the new round of sample papers issue?
As I said, the sample papers are prepared by teachers and other representative interests. Therefore, it is highly arrogant of the Deputy to say they are not relevant.
There is disquiet about some sample papers. The issue will be addressed and I will let the Deputy know the date of issue.
The Irish and English sample papers are totally off the wall.
Order.
Did the Deputy not hear the enthusiastic response of the teachers?
Let us now come to deal with Private Notice Questions addressed to An Taoiseach.
