Vol. 497 No. 5
326 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to introduce a revised system of assessment at junior certificate level for the students for whom the academic system is unsuitable. [25687/98]
At junior certificate level students may take the subjects English, mathematics and Irish at a third level — foundation level — in addition to the two levels at which all other subjects may be taken.
The junior certificate school programme has been developed specifically to meet the needs of some students who are unable to meet the full demands of the junior certificate. The number of examination subjects taken by participants in the junior certificate school programme does not normally exceed five. There is also an extensive profiling system which records achievement demonstrated over a period of time across the junior certificate curriculum. There are in excess of 80 schools and about 2,500 participants in the programme in the current school year.
A review of the junior cycle curriculum is being finalised at present by the NCCA. I shall consider the recommendations of the NCCA and decide whether any further revision of assessment at junior certificate level is warranted when I receive the report of the review from the NCCA.
