Mary O'Rourke
Question:202 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education when the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment was established; the Minister who established it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9167/97]
Written Answers - National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) was established in 1987 by the then Minister for Education, Deputy Mary O'Rourke. The first meeting of the council was held on 8 December 1987. The NCCA superseded the Curriculum and Examinations Board (CEB) which was established in 1984 by Deputy Gemma Hussey, Minister for Education.
The task given to the NCCA can be summarised under five main headings: to improve the quality of education by keeping the school curriculum and the arrangements for assessing pupils under regular review; to advise the Minister on the curriculum in primary and second level schools; to advise the Minister on how a pupil's progress in school should be assessed; to advise the Minister on in-service training for teachers; and to advise the Minister on the standards reached by pupils in public examinations.