Michael Noonan
Question:33 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Education and Science the difficulties, if any, encountered in meeting the schedule for the introduction of a new primary curriculum. [7454/98]
Written Answers. - Primary School Curriculum.
As I indicated in my reply to Question No. 102 on 4 December 1997, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is continuing its detailed work on the revision of the primary curriculum. This work is now nearing completion. At the same time, my Department has been engaged for some time in preparatory planning for the introduction of the revised curriculum.
I understand that the special curriculum implementation group, representative of the main partners in education — teachers, parents and school management — to which I referred in December, will have a further meeting on 8 April next. In addition, a special technical working group, reporting to the main group, has been established and has met on a number of occasions.
Among the issues under consideration by the implementation group is the schedule for introducing the revised curriculum. While it would not be appropriate for me to pre-empt the recommendations of the implementation group in this regard, I am confident that the necessary inservice and support programme can be put in place during the 1998-99 school year and that the implementation of the revised curriculum can proceed without undue delay.