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School Curriculum.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 April 2004

Tuesday, 6 April 2004

Questions (136)

Emmet Stagg

Question:

221 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in providing a leaving certificate curriculum in technology; when the matter will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10507/04]

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Written answers

Technology is provided for junior cycle students in 165 schools. While there is no follow-on subject in the senior cycle, there are three recognised technological subjects at leaving certificate level namely, engineering, construction studies and technical drawing which can be pursued by students who have studied technology at junior cycle level. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment began the process of reviewing the three technological subjects at leaving certificate level and of producing of a new syllabus for a follow-on subject for junior cycle technology in the early 1990s.

Four syllabi are now with my Department for consideration. These are: engineering technology — formerly engineering; architectural technology — formerly construction studies; design and communication graphics — formerly technical drawing; and technology for which there is no equivalent leaving certificate subject. The opportunity to develop the four syllabi simultaneously has enabled each subject in this suite of interrelated subjects to take cognisance of the other three, resulting in a high degree of streamlining between the subjects. However, all four syllabi, in their revised/new state, represent a fundamental shift from the syllabi operating in schools in terms of content, pedagogy, assessment arrangements and resource implications. Consequently, the implementation plan for the four syllabi will need to take account of a wide range of school-based and system-wide factors and will necessarily be complex. The NCCA is working on an implementation plan that will inform the decisions my Department will make in this regard.

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