Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 February 2016
472. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will make history a compulsory junior certificate subject rather than a choice subject in the junior certificate, depending on the school a child attends. [4148/16]
View answerCurrently, over 90% of students choose history although it is compulsory in only half our schools. Curriculum choice is important in motivating students to learn and to remain in school to completion of senior cycle.
Schools across all sectors offer History. History teachers attract students to their subject through their own love and passion for History, and by engaging the natural curiosity of their students in, for example, the lives of people, the origins of the modern world and in objects and documents from the past. History is the 5th most popular subject in the Junior Certificate examination. The Decade of Centenaries is giving added interest to History, especially the 1916- 2106 celebrations this year.
I have every confidence that through the implementation of the Framework for Junior Cycle the place of history will be retained and given a new impetus across the junior cycle curriculum. Such an impetus should help to improve uptake of History at senior cycle also. In fact, a new specification for Junior Cycle History will shortly be developed by the NCCA. This will involve intensive consultation whereby all interested parties will be able to provide their views. The new specification will be available for implementation in all schools from September 2018.
