Vol. 443 No. 4
6 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the anomalies which have arisen in relation to the transition year, including tests as to persons who may be suitable for inclusion; if she will ensure that all students will be able to avail of the new programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
13 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Education the steps, if any, she is taking to assist in the provision of facilities for students in their transition year.
17 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for Education the additional specific funding she is making available to enable second-level schools to introduce the transition year programme in a meaningful manner without the necessity for schools to impose further burdens on parents by seeking voluntary contributions from them.
32 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Education her views on whether the transition year programme and the leaving certificate vocational programme involves voluntary secondary schools in the development of school-based curricula, the planning of work experience, the organisation of community service and the organisation of a range of out-of-school activities; her further views on whether each voluntary secondary school offering those programmes needs to have the facility to appoint a co-ordinator on reduced classroom teaching hours; and if she will appoint part-time teachers to teach the ten hours approximately thus created.
46 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Education her views on whether the transition year programme and the leaving certificate vocational programme involves voluntary secondary schools in the development of school-based curricula, the planning of work experience, the organisation of community service and the organisation of a range of out-of-school activities; her further views on whether each voluntary secondary school offering those programmes needs to have the facility to appoint a co-ordinator on reduced classroom teaching hours; and if she will appoint part-time teachers to teach the ten hours approximately thus created.
74 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Education the additional specific funding she is making available to enable second-level schools to introduce the transition year programme in a meaningful manner without the necessity for schools to impose further burdens on parents by seeking voluntary contributions from them.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 13, 17, 32, 46 and 74 together.
I have taken the following steps to assist schools in providing the transition year programme.
I have increased the rate of capitation grant for voluntary secondary schools generally by £8 per pupil and of disadvantaged secondary schools by £23 per pupil from January 1994. These increased rates apply to all pupils including those taking the transition year programme. The budgets of community and comprehensive schools and of vocational education committees were also increased.
Some additional accommodation will be required. Schools should make application to my Department where additional accommodation will be required to cater for the extra pupil numbers arising for the transition year programme. These applications will be dealt with as part of the second-level capital programme.
An in-career development programme for the teachers in schools which have opted to offer the transition year programme is already under way as part of the £3 million in-career development programme at second level to be spent in 1994.
I have established two monitoring groups, one within my Department and one including representatives of managerial authorities, teacher unions and parents, to keep all aspects of the implementation of the senior cycle restructuring under review.
Provision of the transition year programme will involve the development of school based curricula. Based on guidelines issued by my Department, schools will select and adapt the curriculum content of the transition year programme, having regard to the interests of pupils and the views of parents, the possibilities offered by employers and other work-providing agencies.
The need for further resources for the transition year, including the question of additional teaching hours in respect of coordination work, is under consideration.
The Minister ended her brief reply by talking about the prospects for schools next year. Many schools are completely in the dark because they cannot plan. I speak as one looking forward to personal experience of the transition year. It is very difficult for schools to plan for the transition year unless they know they can secure a grant, for example, and have a co-ordinator for the year. Will the Minister be more specific about what may be made available and how soon so that schools may be able to plan?
Resources are being made available for schools who opted to provide a transition year — 575 schools expressed the wish to offer the transition year programme from 1994. Of those, 416 are offering it for the first time. We are talking about 24,000 extra pupils. Each pupil will receive the increased capitation grant while in the transition year. The departmental committee take on board concerns expressed by a committee planning to make the best use of the transition year. They are planning the in-career service and building requirement. I am aware that the Department is being asked for extra teaching resources — I do not say we are not considering it — and I would refer the Deputy to the departmental communication sent to schools in December 1993. It was stated that no arrangements were made for additional grants to schools specifically for the transition year. Students on these programmes will, of course, count for standard teaching allocations and grants towards recurrent costs. Schools applied on the basis of that information. The Department will spend £3 million on in-career development this year. Money has been put aside in the capital building programme if requests for additional accommodation are received. We are looking at aspects that the managerial bodies and teachers unions have asked us to consider. This information was offered to those schools which opted to provide a transition year last December and they were asked to plan on that basis.
Many schools request funding from parents for the transition year. If it is to be used in a proper, structured and cohesive way the money must be forthcoming. Does the Minister agree that grants will form an instrinsic part of this and will she give a commitment that they will be made available?
Any contributions of a voluntary nature sought by any school must be voluntary. Each pupil participating in the transition year will receive the normal capitation grant given to any student. Where contributions are requested from parents they must be voluntary. Parents should be aware that each student in a transition year class receives a capitation grant for their attendance at school. It applies equally to them as it would to any other pupil attending any other year.
The time available for dealing with Priority Questions has been exhausted. I will take Question No. 8 in ordinary time.
What about No. 7?
We do not have time for it.
