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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 6

Written Answers. - Transition Year Programme.

John Bruton

Question:

403 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will ensure that all parents of children entering transition year are given a copy of the document, Writing the Transition Year Programme, which was recently issued to schools offering the programme so that parents will be fully aware of the objects of the programme generally and will be in a position to participate more effectively in it; and if all schools provide a written transition year programme which is clear and transparent for teachers, parents and students. [10576/00]

The transition year guidelines state that "a clearly documented programme is essential for ongoing review and for effective internal eval uation of the programme in the school". The Guidelines, which provide the official framework for all individual transition year programmes, go on to say that this written programme should be reviewed annually, revised where appropriate and retained in the school for inspection by the inspectorate of my Department. In a small number of schools inspected in the past two years, the inspectors found an inadequate or out-of-date written programme. Circular M1/00, issued in January 2000, reminds schools of the regulation that a comprehensive written programme must be provided. This circular directed schools to the document, Writing the Transition Year Programme, produced jointly by the inspectorate and by the transition year curriculum support service.

At present the document Writing the Transition Year Programme is primarily intended for the co-ordinator and teachers of the programme in schools. The document should, of course, be available for consultation by parents in all schools offering the transition year programme. However, should schools require further copies of the document for parents of transition year students, my Department will make them available on request.

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