Vol. 500 No. 2
62 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of schools who have achieved significant educational results from a three year infant cycle are now being closed down. [3635/99]
My Department's long standing policy in the matter of promoting pupils has been clearly set out in three circulars, the earliest of which dates back to 1967. I have not issued any instructions amending this policy. The policy specifies that the primary school curriculum is designed as an eight year course which provides for an infant programme of two years followed by six years in standards from first to sixth. The syllabus for each component of the curriculum is designed to give the greatest possible degree of flexibility in selecting programmes best suited to the individual needs of individual pupils and schools.
Accordingly, pupils should progress from one standard to a higher standard at the end of each school year. In this way, pupils who have completed sixth standard at the minimum age of 12 years should transfer to post primary education and have the opportunity to complete three years of post primary education before reaching the minimum school leaving age.
Since the retention of pupils is a serious intervention in a child's educational progress, the managerial authorities of schools should examine and exploit the deployment of staff resources, the use of more flexible class management and teaching methodologies and the involvement of parental and home supports before considering retention as an option. This policy applies to all pupils and to all schools.
