Andrew Boylan
Question:77 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has satisfied himself with the quality of transition programme available in different schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7254/00]
Written Answers. - Transition Year Programme.
The quality of the transition year programme can vary from one school to another. This is to be expected as each school is responsible for the choice of curriculum. The programme guidelines issued by my Department set the broad parameters within which transition year programmes operate. These guidelines allow schools considerable freedom. This freedom offers schools the necessary opportunity to devise creative curricula and learning experiences for their pupils.
A major evaluation of the transition year programme was carried out by the inspectorate of my Department in 146 schools offering the programme in 1996. This showed that most schools offering the programme used this freedom responsibly and creatively. Under the heading "quality of teaching and learning", 55% of schools evaluated scored "creditable" or "distinctive". Weaknesses emerged, however, in the areas of assessment of pupils' work, where 19% of schools evaluated were considered to be weak, and evaluation of the programme by the school, where 25% of schools needed to do more work.
My Department has followed through on the recommendations issued to schools as part of the report on the 1996 evaluation in a variety of ways.
Support work in schools by the transition year curriculum support service has been intensified in the areas diagnosed as weak.
The transition year programme has been evaluated on an ongoing basis by the inspectorate. Since September 1998, 30 transition year programmes have been inspected. These evaluations included interviews with the principal and the transition year co-ordinator, examination of the school's written programme and observation of teachers at work in classrooms. Individual reports, including recommendations on areas perceived as weak, have issued to the schools evaluated. Where necessary, the inspector has remained in contact with the school to ensure that recommendations are followed through.
Circular M1/00, recently issued to schools, seeks to firm up schools' practice in the implementation of the transition year programme under the following headings: the need for each school to produce an annual, written transition year programme; the need for each school to ensure that all transition year students complete a full school year; the need for schools to devise curricula specific to the programme and not to treat the year as year one of a three year leaving certificate programme; the advisability for schools of making full use of the transition year curriculum support service and of reading the service's publications for schools.
A document called "Writing the Transition Year Programme" has recently issued to schools offering the programme. This was produced jointly by the inspectorate of my Department and the transition year curriculum support service.