Jonathan O'Brien
Question:111. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the resources he has allocated to training teachers for implementation of the new junior certificate reforms. [10892/14]
View answerTuesday, 4 March 2014
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Written answers
A new dedicated continuing professional development (CPD) service for schools - Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) was established in 2013. JCT commenced the roll-out of CPD events for both school leaders and teachers in November 2013. A range of resources and supports will also be made available online. A variety of CPD delivery methods will be employed including in-school CPD, some of which will be teacher-led, along with off-site workshops delivered by JCT. A multifaceted approach will be adopted, which will help promote professional dialogue and sharing of experiences among school leaders and teaching staff, and support schools in focussing on their own needs and aims, thereby allowing the CPD to impact more directly on teaching and learning in each school context. English teachers will receive a minimum of 4.5 days of training or continuous professional development (CPD). All other subject teachers will receive a minimum of 4 days CPD for each subject. All schools will have the equivalent of one full day of CPD annually for each year of the roll-out of the JCSA. Schools can close to facilitate this CPD for all teaching staff. This will mean that for a teacher of two subjects, the total CPD received will be in the region of 16 days or its equivalent and even more for teachers of English. Substitution cover is provided to allow teachers to engage in these activities.The CPD being planned by the JCT also builds on the substantial amount of CPD and resources already offered to English teachers and post-primary schools' literacy link teachers over the last 2 years by the PDST, which has been leading the delivery of CPD related to the literacy and numeracy strategy. The reforms arising from the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, including literacy and numeracy development, school self-evaluation and junior cycle, are closely aligned and interlinked; CPD and improvements in one area should impact across the others at school level.The supports for the new Junior Cycle, including ICT supports, are currently being discussed with the education stakeholders