Jan O'Sullivan
Question:147 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to increase the level of project work in the leaving certificate. [23000/01]
Written Answers. - State Examinations.
In answering the Deputy's question, I am including portfolio work, task based work and assignments within the category of project work but not practical tests.
At present, project work is an integral part of leaving certificate engineering, construction studies, agricultural science and agricultural economics. In addition, there is a significant amount of project work within the compulsory links modules which are a key feature of the leaving certificate vocational programme. The leaving certificate applied is based on students accomplishing a required number of tasks in the course of the two year programme. All of the above categories of assessment require the student to engage in the achievement of a task or a certain number of tasks. These forms of assessment, which can broadly be regarded as project work, are also included as assessment components, where appropriate and feasible, in all revisions of syllabi in the established leaving certificate.
In including project work, practical work and other forms of non-written assessment, for example, oral assessment, in the leaving certificate, due account must be taken of the cumulative burden of assessment on the individual student. Depending on his/her subject choices, a student could find himself/herself with an excessive number of tasks to complete.
Another major consideration in the introduction of project work, as an integral part of the leaving certificate examination, is the need to ensure that any additional assessment component introduced to any particular subject enjoys the same level of reliability and validity as the modes of assessment already in use. The NCCA, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, is currently examining the most up to date research in this area. I await the outcome of this research.
Consideration must also be given to the impact of any increase in the frequency of practical/project assessments on schools in terms of teacher absences to conduct such assessments during the school year.
I have asked that my Department, in considering an increase in the level of project work, in the context of the revision of the leaving certificate syllabi, to pay particular attention to these considerations and to consult widely with the partners in education before making final recommendations to me.