Vol. 536 No. 5
397 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation regarding the introduction of a leaving certificate examination in physical education; if he has received a report from the NCCA on this matter; if so, if he will publish this and forward a copy to Deputy Creed; and if he will comment on the sports infrastructure in our schools in this regard. [15119/01]
The NCCA published a draft syllabus for leaving certificate physical education for consultation in August of last year. Following an extensive consultation process, the final draft of this document is being revised by the NCCA course committee prior to being presented to council. The NCCA has produced a report on the consultation process which has been circulated to members of the NCCA Council. It is anticipated that the syllabus will be presented to me in the near future along with a proposed implementation plan detailing a time schedule and resource implications. I will arrange for a copy of the report to be made available to the Deputy when I receive it.
In common with other leaving certificate subjects each school will make a decision on whether or not to offer physical education as an examination subject. Such decisions will be based, among other things, on the availability of suitable facilities and on the availability of suitably qualified teachers. The physical resources available in the schools for the teaching of physical education as an examination subject will have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the new leaving certificate course. Information on the quality and standard of such resources will be referred to in the planning and implementation strategy.
The new leaving certificate examination in physical education will be introduced to schools on a phased basis. This should avoid overburdening schools and teachers and allow for gradual adaptation to the changes envisaged. The phased nature of the implementation should allow schools to make the necessary infrastructural changes in advance of introducing the subject for examination. When I receive the final syllabus documentation, including proposals for implementation, from the NCCA my Department will put in place a comprehensive implementation strategy that will identify and address human resource issues and capital resource implications.
