Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 7

Written Answers. - Curricula Policy.

Dan Wallace

Question:

82 Mr. D. Wallace asked the Minister for Education her assessment of the level of priority attached to subjects such as art and music in first and second level educational curricula; and whether she is actively considering possible changes in this area. [3022/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The White Paper, "Charting our Education Future", states: "The Government affirms the centrality of the arts within educational policy and provision, particularly during compulsory schooling".

Art and Music are obligatory parts of the curriculum for primary schools which is under review at present by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. The White Paper, "Charting Our Education Future", states: "A broadly based arts curriculum, which will include music, dance, drama, painting, poetry and story-telling will be drawn up in the context of the review." This review is already well-advanced.

At second level the White Paper states that each school will be expected to provide students with experience in arts education. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has been asked to develop recognised full junior certificate courses in drama and dance to assist in the continuity between the broadly based creative and performing arts curriculum at primary level and the arts curriculum at second level.

At junior certificate level, syllabi in art and music have recently been revised. A new leaving certificate syllabus in music will be introduced in September 1997 for examination in 1999.