Vol. 572 No. 3
324 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will remove the inequity which applies to the repeat leaving certificate for home economics students who at present are not in a position to complete the project aspect of their course and thereby will lose an opportunity to obtain 20% of the marks of the subject. [23430/03]
The revision of any syllabus can present difficulties for students who are repeating the leaving certificate. The revised syllabus in leaving certificate home economics became the approved syllabus on 1 November 2002. The leaving certificate examinations in June 2004 will be based on this revised syllabus.
The syllabus has not been changed since the 1970s. Perhaps the most important change from the point of view of quality of learning and teaching is the new emphasis on practical work. There had been a reliance on terminal examinations alone which is rectified in the revised syllabus.
On foot of a Government decision of 6 March 2003, the State Examinations Commission has been established with statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the national certificate examinations. This would include the deadline for submitting journals of practical work. Consequently I am referring the Deputy's question to the chief executive officer of the commission for direct reply.
