Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Feb 2001

Vol. 529 No. 3

Written Answers. - State Examinations.

Jack Wall

Question:

35 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the measures he proposes to take to increase the number of students taking a science subject as part of the leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2767/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The uptake of leaving certificate biology has remained fairly constant at approximately 50% of the cohort while the uptake of agricultural science has increased somewhat, albeit from a fairly low base. The uptake of the physical sciences, on the other hand, has been decreasing for some time.

The following initiatives to increase the uptake of the physical science subjects at leaving certificate are being implemented.

Last December, I established a task force on the uptake of the physical sciences at both second and third level. The membership of the task force is representative of a wide range of stakeholders and is chaired by Dr. Danny O'Hare, former President of Dublin City University. Two meetings of the task force have already taken place and the positions of science strategy co-ordinators are currently being filled. The brief of the task force is to identify the issues contributing to the falling uptake of the physical sciences and to recommend additional measures to address these issues. The work of the task force will range across both second and third level and will also interact with industry, thus providing insights for students into the many courses and careers that are available to them as a result of a study of the physical sciences.

Revised syllabi in leaving certificate physics and leaving certificate chemistry were introduced in September 2000 for first examination in June 2002. As well as the addition of new, up-to-date content, these syllabi have an increased emphasis on practical work and on the interface between science, technology and society. These changes are intended to highlight for students the relevance of these subjects to their everyday lives.

A new format of examination paper in ordinary level junior certificate science was introduced in the 2000 examination. In leaving certificate physics and chemistry the structure and layout of questions on the ordinary level papers has been revised. These changes have been designed to make these examination papers more accessible to the cohort of candidates for whom they are intended.

A comprehensive in-career development programme for teachers of physics and chemistry was put in place in September 1999 and is designed to run for three years. During the first year of the programme a total of two and a half days of in-service training was provided for teachers of physics and for teachers of chemistry. The programme is continuing in the current school year with a particular emphasis on practical work. The programme has received a very enthusiastic response from teachers and will make a major contribution to reinvigorating the teaching of these subjects at both junior and senior level.

The in-career development programme includes the provision of support materials for teachers. In addition to these materials, my Department has produced comprehensive reference handbooks in both physics and chemistry and has distributed them to all second level schools. These handbooks have been provided in both printed and CD-ROM formats. In addition to the copies sent to schools, individual teachers are being provided with further copies of the CD as part of the in-career development programme. These materials have a particular emphasis on practical work and on the interface between science, technology and society and so will provide teachers with additional insights into the relevance and applications of these subjects to the daily lives of their students.

Additional grants for the purchase of laboratory equipment, including ICT equipment, are being provided to schools. These grants amounted to in excess of £7 million in the year 2000. This resulted in a grant of approximately £10,500 to each school providing one or more physical science subjects.

A special annualper capita grant of £10 for pupils taking leaving certificate physics and leaving certificate chemistry has been introduced.

A revised structure for the junior certificate science syllabus is under consideration by an NCCA course committee. This revision is giving particular attention to the physics and chemistry content of the course. It is proposed that the revised syllabus will be implemented by September 2002.