Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 February 2014
112. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made in relation to the draft leaving certificate politics and society course; when he plans to roll it out to schools; the way it will relate to the review of the CSPE programme at junior cycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9027/14]
View answer122. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the draft leaving certificate politics and society course; when he plans to roll it out to schools; the way it will be assessed; the way it will relate to the review of the CSPE programme at junior cycle, in view of the fact that course will no longer be compulsory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8911/14]
View answer282. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the specific qualifications required to teach the new politics course at leaving certificate level. [9229/14]
View answerI am anxious to know what progress has been made on the draft leaving certificate course on politics and society. It is planned to roll out this course in schools. Voter turnout in the age group of 18 to 24 years in the 2011 general election was up by nearly 30% on the figures for the 2007 election. These citizens had the value of the CSPE course, which may have been a correlation rather than a causation. I ask the Minister to say what have been the developments.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 112, 122 and 282 together.
I thank the Deputies who have tabled these questions as the topic is of interest to anyone who is a Deputy. I have decided to make the subject politics and society available to students at senior cycle. On foot of this, my Department recently wrote to the NCCA seeking its advice on a number of issues which need to be addressed before the subject can be made available.
Politics and society, as with many other leaving certificate subjects, is designed to be studied from the beginning. The curriculum for the subject has been published and is available from the NCCA. The only issues outstanding are when it can be commenced. I advise Deputies with an interest in this area to look at the curriculum and the recommended textbooks. I would like to think that students starting transition year next September could aim towards taking politics and society as a leaving certificate subject three years hence. There may be some issues around the preparation of examination questions but we need to do something of this order and I am very committed to making it happen.
I am glad to hear that such progress has been made. I hope the resources will be put in place. If the review of the CSPE project shows that the subject will be an optional subject, will a whole cohort of young people be disenfranchised? Citizenship should be taken seriously. The current emphasis is on the STEM subjects but the kinds of skills required in pursuing a course like politics and society such as open-mindedness, reflectiveness, problem-solving, are integral to driving an economy and we should train our young people to do that. In most advanced democracies such as America, France and the UK, low voter turnout among young people is a particular concern. We should act because the date of 23 May is looming large. I note the young people in the Visitors Gallery who I am delighted to see here but many people have never had the option of coming to visit the Dáil. For example, the day I was elected was the first time I was ever here and I do not think that should happen. I think I should get in here again but I will not be repeating my first day.
I have no doubt that Deputy Conway and many of her colleagues will get back in here again.
It will be no thanks to the Minister.
It certainly will be no thanks to Deputy Dooley either.
It will be in spite of Deputy Dooley.
I am meeting with the Teaching Council next week and I will discuss this matter with the council. It is a question of identifying the teaching qualifications. As we all know, we may all be elected but that does not necessarily mean we are qualified politicians, per se. We have arrived here with different sets of qualifications. The teaching of politics is not as specific as teaching one of the STEM subjects to which we referred earlier. I would hope to have the subject available as soon as possible for young people entering transition year next September.
