Vol. 568 No. 1
92 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the current standing of the new junior certificate science syllabus; the timescale for the implementation of the syllabus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15895/03]
A revised syllabus for science at higher and ordinary levels will be introduced on an optional basis in September 2003 for examination in the junior certificate examination in 2006 and following years. My Department has issued a circular letter to the management authorities of second level schools inviting them to opt in to implementing the revised syllabus from 2003-04 and, if their school is in the free education scheme, to apply for a once-off equipment/resource grant by completing the accompanying application form.
Notifications from such schools are required to reach my Department before 31 October 2003. A support team consisting of a national co-ordinator and regional development officers will be in place from September 2003 to provide an in-career development programme for teachers. The support team will provide advice to principals and school staff, and a help line, and will support the development of school networks. Schools not intending to adopt the revised syllabus from 2003 to 2004 may continue to use the old syllabus.
My first question concerns the use of the word "optional". Does the Minister agree this is optional for the schools not the students? If a school does not offer the new syllabus, students – the users of the service who are supposed to benefit from the education system – have no options. If all of the schools which the Minister states will take up the service do so, how much will this extra grant cost? From where will come the substantial resources required? Will this affect other grants? Is it guaranteed that it will be paid, unlike the ICT grants and the capitation grants which I know will be paid but which are being reviewed midstream?
Given that this is an eleventh hour negotiation, will it be implemented even by those schools which choose to do so? Has the Minister considered how this will affect book lists and similar matters? Will the fact that the two syllabuses are to be run together require more inspectors? Has the exams commission guaranteed equality of marking for the junior certificate science syllabus in 2006? Does the Minister think it a level playing field if students are to sit exams based on two different syllabuses?
This type of deal is almost like a bribe of which only some schools can avail. The reality is that the most disadvantaged schools, those with the worst science facilities, have no options. Does the Minister agree that they will not be able to take up the syllabus because they physically cannot teach it as they do not have the necessary equipment? Despite that, if they do not take up the syllabus, they will not get any grant. Does the Minister think that a satisfactory situation for schools and, in particular, pupils to be placed in?
I do not think it satisfactory that we could not reach agreement with the unions. This was not a negotiation.
It was a deal.
When we could not get agreement from unions and management bodies, I took the decision that I would not deprive many of the teachers and all of the students taking these subjects of the opportunity to go with the new syllabus which was agreed and recommended by all. Everybody felt it was a good and positive change and I was not prepared to allow it to be held up.
The various schools were surveyed. I was told about serious deficiencies and faults in labs in schools but when they were surveyed, that was not quite the case. About 12 schools are not in a position to go ahead with this for the school year 2003 to 2004. Some 250 schools will be able to go ahead with a small grant of about €3,500 and it is estimated that a further 460 schools will be able to go ahead with a slightly larger grant – perhaps two or three times €3,500 – based on information the Department has and findings on the ground.
The Department did not see any justification for depriving students of the opportunity to become involved in a subject in a new and exciting way, particularly when everybody has been crying out for a new syllabus in junior science. I make no apologies for that. The Deputy mentioned that this was optional. I hope, in the best spirit of partnership within the schools, that students will be given an opportunity to decide whether they want to go forward with this, and that they and their parents, as partners in education, will be consulted. I hope there will not be a decision by one union or by the management of a school to deprive students of this opportunity.
The cost of the grants plus the cost in regard to schools for which the Department's building unit would have to provide new facilities totals about €12 million. That will be prioritised in the building programme and the funding will come out of the Department's general Estimates next year.
The Minister's hope is well and good. However, he is responsible for the provision of education. I have visited schools, as I am sure the Minister has, where there are no science labs. It is not an option for some schools to choose to implement a new curriculum that requires 30 mandatory experiments for which equipment is required. More than 12 schools will not be in a position to take this up. What does the Minister intend to do beyond hoping?
This is to come out of next year's schools building programme. Is there to be a special new fund for science laboratories in particular?
A total of 12 schools are not in a position to provide a minimum of a double period per week access to laboratory facilities. I said that the Department's building unit would make contact with those schools if they opt in. The other schools are in a position to undertake this. The equipment we are discussing is already in use although there may not be enough of it in some schools. This is a little extra.
With regard to the teachers, most of whom were involved in the change that took place at leaving certificate level, some 1,700 biology teachers, 1,000 physics teachers and 900 chemistry teachers have already received substantial in-service training for the leaving certificate, which uses exactly the same methodology as the junior certificate. Contrary to the impression which some people were trying to create in order to get an extra lab assistant in every school at a cost of €18 million, it is feasible to go ahead with this and we will do so. I hope all of the schools will participate.
