Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 June 2014
56. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse the decision on the proposal that the civic, social and political education, CSPE, subject will be removed as a compulsory State examinable subject in the new junior cycle curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26221/14]
View answerOne of the Principles which underpin the new Framework for Junior Cycle is "inclusive education" and during their 3 years in junior cycle students will be expected to cover 24 'Statements of Learning' which encompass the key knowledge and skills required by our young people if they are to become active and involved citizens. In addition, there are 8 key skills which include "working with others" whereby students should realise and experience how they can "contribute to making the world a better place".
One of the statements of learning requires that students will " value what it means to be an active citizen with rights and responsibilities in local and wider context". As students will be expected to experience the principles, statements of learning and key skills, it is anticipated that education for active citizenship will continue to be an important part of the new Junior Cycle. I recently approved a new short course in CSPE that has been developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). This short course will be available to schools to implement from this September, should they wish to do so, as part of their Junior Cycle programme. This programme is in fact designed for 100 hours of teaching compared to less than 70 hours for the existing CSPE syllabus.
The CSPE short course will be complemented at Senior Cycle by the introduction of 'Politics and Society' as a new optional Leaving Certificate subject. The draft syllabus for Politics and Society, which has been developed by the NCCA, is structured around four key areas. One of these areas is 'Active Citizenship'. The Politics and Society subject will be made available to schools once the NCCA has advised my Department on a number of outstanding issues.
In the context of the implementation of the Framework for Junior Cycle the only subjects that will be "compulsory" are English, Mathematics and Irish. This decision has been taken to give schools the flexibility to develop their Junior Cycle programme mindful of the educational needs of their own students and mindful of the principles, statements of learning and key skills as set out in the Framework.
