Olivia Mitchell
Question:83 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to introduce road safety and driver training in the second level syllabus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12115/99]
Written Answers. - Second Level Syllabus.
Second level schools are free to address the issue of road safety as part of the programme in civic, social and political education. This subject is part of the required junior certificate curriculum for second level schools. It is a course in citizenship based on human rights and social responsibilities. The syllabus specifies a number of concepts which must be addressed, but schools have a good deal of flexibility with regard to how this is done. A number of these concepts can accommodate the study of issues relating to road safety, for example, rights and responsibilities and law.
In civic, social and political education, emphasis is placed on active learning, methodologies with a view to the development by pupils of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values which will enable them to act responsibility as citizens.
Elements of road safety are also treated in the new social, personal and health education curriculum which will be introduced at junior cycle post primary level shortly. Schools offering the transition year programme are free, also, to address the question of road safety as part of that programme.
While it would be open to individual schools to make arrangements for driver training for students holding an appropriate provisional or full driver's licence, I do not intend to prescribe such as part of any second level syllabus.