Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 6

Written Answers. - Primary School Curriculum.

Paul McGrath

Question:

450 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give details of the meetings, if any, he had with the teachers union, the parents primary association and school management representatives to discuss these proposals in relation to his recent announcement about the introduction of another European language to the primary school curriculum; the outcome of those discussions; the training programmes to be put in place for teachers to enable them implement this programme; if he will give details of the amount of time to be allocated each week for the teaching of this new language; if he will indicate a typical timetable showing the way in which this new subject will be facilitated; and if he will compare this timetable with a typical primary school timetable currently in operation. [18824/97]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

Meetings have been held with the partners in education on the subject of the pilot project on modern languages in the primary school. The outcome of these discussions is the formation of a consultative group of the partners. This group will continue to advise and inform the project throughout its existence.

Teachers who will be involved in the project will be given all the necessary training. Four project leaders will be appointed who will, as part of their task, identify the training needs of the teachers concerned and develop and organise training programmes to satisfy these needs. Further details of the training of teachers will be available when the schools and project leaders have been selected.

One and a half hours per week will be devoted to the teaching of modern languages in this project. The project leaders will examine in all its aspects, including use of time, present practice in primary schools where a modern language is taught, will identify best practice and share the ideas gained from this exercise with participating schools. The consultative group will also keep this matter under review and it is felt that it would not be useful at this stage to issue the timetable referred to by the Deputy.