Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 December 2014
152. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to have resources and training to support the proposed changes in each subject area and that these resources are available to all schools in each educational sector so all our students will have equal opportunity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47431/14]
View answerA new dedicated continuing professional development (CPD) service for schools - Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) was established by my Department in 2013. Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) has been established by my Department to provide effective support to schools in the context of their implementation of the new Framework for Junior Cycle. Support is available from JCT to all post-primary schools, special schools and centres for education, offering the Junior Cycle.
A comprehensive and long-term national programme of CPD for school leaders and teachers commenced in October 2013. CPD will be provided on a rolling basis as each new subject specification is implemented, throughout the duration of the implementation phases of A Framework for Junior Cycle. A minimum of 4.5 days CPD will be available to all teachers of English and a minimum of 4 days CPD will be available to teachers of all other subjects. Additional supplementary CPD in particular areas of interest will also be made available e.g. workshops on teaching film and drama for teachers of English.
All schools will also have one day whole-school in-service per year for each year of the roll-out of the JCSA and approval is given for schools to close, subject to Board of Management approval, to facilitate this CPD for all staff. In total, every single teacher of two subjects will have access to a minimum of 16 days of CPD during the roll-out of the JCSA – a very significant investment in teacher education.
The Government is investing heavily in measures to support teachers and schools as they implement the Junior Cycle Framework with €9.3m allocated for 2015.
