Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 31 Mar 1992

Vol. 417 No. 9

Written Answers. - Junior Certificate.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

33 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education if he will outline the procedures he intends to adopt to maintain the credibility of the junior certificate following on the refusal of the TUI to co-operate with school-based assessment as a consequence of what the TUI regards as a breach of trust by his Department.

Minister for Education (Mr. S. Brennan)

I am confident that the credibility of the junior certificate will not be affected in any way by the action of the Teachers' Union of Ireland.

It has been the practice for some years to allow an optional school-based oral test in languages at the intermediate certificate as part of that examination. No payment was made in respect of this optional test and there is no change in that position in relation to the junior certificate examination.

Discussions with the Teachers' Union of Ireland were in the context of a general scheme of school based assessment and, in regard to payment for such work, the union was specifically informed in February 1991 that this matter would be determined in the context of a general scheme of school-based assessment which, in turn, would be considered on receipt of the report of the representative committee on school-based assessment. This report has not yet been finalised.