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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Apr 2003

Vol. 565 No. 2

Other Questions. - State Examinations.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

9 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if it is intended to initiate a review of the leaving certificate with a view to placing greater emphasis on continuous assessment and project work; if so, the nature of the review proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10194/03]

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment recently published the paper Developing Senior Cycle Education: Consultative Paper on Issues and Options. It presents ideas about the future of the senior cycle of post-primary education. The paper is part of a process of consultation through which the NCCA is seeking the views of students, parents, teachers, and other interested individuals and groups, as to how the senior cycle should develop and be shaped into the future.

The senior cycle has been a focus of considerable change and development in the past ten years resulting in the emergence of transition year, the leaving certificate vocational programme and the leaving certificate applied, in addition to the established leaving certificate. The consultative paper, which has been widely distributed, now provides an opportunity to take stock of these and other developments in education as well as in the area of assessment and to engage in an exercise of foresight regarding future developments in senior cycle education.

At the end of the consultation period the NCCA will host a forum entitled "National Forum on Developing Senior Cycle Education: Issues and Options" in the autumn. The forum will report on the findings of the consultation process and signal the directions that the emerging policy paper on senior cycle education is taking. I expect to receive a final draft policy paper from the NCCA for my consideration after that.

The Minister and I agree that there is a need for change in how young people are measured. The current system whereby how they perform in the June of one year in their lives can make such a difference. What support will the Minister provide to this review? How widely will it be debated? Changing any system can be difficult. Does the Minister agree with me that the kinds of skills and abilities that are measured in the leaving certificate at the moment are not necessarily the most important ones in terms of being a useful member of society? It does not assess the ability to work in co-operation with other people, or being flexible or quick-witted. With what urgency will he address this issue when the full report is received?

On the basis that change takes so long in education, I regard this as extremely urgent. The NCCA is the body that will make the final recommendations to me. The launch took place in December or January. Between February and April we will see the publication of the final report on the international thematic seminar on international developments and the preparation and issue of specific papers on basic and key skills to which the Deputy referred – the life skills approach; modularisation in curriculum; and curriculum structures and programme which is currently ongoing.

In May and June there will be a series of meetings between the NCCA and representatives of the partners in education and others outside the partners in education. It will try to finalise the report of the consultations on the senior cycle education with the main findings and recommendations in June or July. In September or October the national forum will take place reporting on the findings of the consultation process. Following that, presumably in November or December, an NCCA policy paper will be issued advising me on future developments in senior cycle education.

That is the timetable and I cannot wait to get my hands on the report to see what we can do with it.

Will the Minister ensure the continuous assessment does not turn out to be continuous harassment, putting the students under pressure all year instead of just at the end? Skills that are encouraged by bodies like Gaisce should be incorporated into any new curriculum that might be introduced.

I agree with the Deputy. I do not want to change a system that puts intense pressure on young people for a number of weeks to one where there is pressure on young people over two years. Having almost put four children through the leaving certificate, I know that a bit of pressure is no harm. However, there are many things we can do that can reduce the pressure to allow the students to show exactly the skills they have. I would like to see the kind of things the Deputy mentioned measured in some way and an assessment carried out of the whole person rather than just what they can give back at an exam. I would appreciate the support of all sides of the House when we go down that route because it will have its difficulties.

The Minister will have it.

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