Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 June 2014
52. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if civil, social and political education will be removed as a compulsory State examinable subject under the new junior cycle curriculum; and the way students will be educated in areas such as aspects of active citizenship, human rights and the political system under the new curriculum. [26368/14]
View answer53. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to Ireland’s obligations under a number of United Nation's conventions, including the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, to provide education on human rights to children; and the way this obligation will continue to be fulfilled if and when the junior cycle curriculum is reformed. [26369/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 53 together.
In the context of the implementation of the new 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. In fact, the new Framework includes a strong focus on education for active citizenship and the promotion of human rights and responsibilities.
Education about active citizenship and human rights issues are an integral component of the Framework for Junior Cycle. For example, one of the 24 'Statements of Learning', that encompass the key knowledge and skills that students will develop during their junior cycle, requires that students will " value what it means to be an active citizen with rights and responsibilities in local and wider context". In addition, the 8 key skills which underpin the new Framework for Junior Cycle, include "working with others" whereby students should realise and experience how they can "contribute to making the world a better place". As students will be expected to experience these principles, statements of learning and key skills, it is anticipated that education for active citizenship and education about human rights and responsibilities 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 new short course aims to inform, inspire, empower and enable young people to participate as active citizens in contemporary society at local, national and global levels based on an understanding of human rights and social responsibilities. One of the three strands in the short course focuses on 'rights and responsibilities'. The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR), the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), are key documents which underpin the course. Informed by these documents, CSPE students will be expected to participate in activities which include designing a campaign to highlight a human rights issue.
As with Junior Cycle, education about active citizenship and human rights issues are also reflected at Senior Cycle. As part of transition year, students are afforded the opportunity to further interrogate some of the themes encountered in CSPE at Junior Cycle. This is facilitated by the availability of resources and materials that have been developed by as number of NGOs, including Amnesty International, for use by transition year pupils.
I have also indicated my intention to introduce 'Politics and Society' as a new optional Leaving Certificate subject. One of the objectives of the draft syllabus, which has been developed by the NCCA, is to develop 'a sense of care for others and a respect for and a valuing of diversity in all areas of human life within the parameters of human rights principles'. In addition, the draft syllabus 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.
