Holly Cairns
Question:291. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she engaged with a teaching organisation (details supplied) on her announced changes to the Leaving Certificate. [22358/22]
View answerWednesday, 4 May 2022
Questions (291)
Written answers
As the Deputy is aware, on 29 March I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their Senior Cycle experience.
The three tenets of Senior Cycle reform are to:
- Empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century
- Enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system
- Embed wellbeing and reduce student stress levels
In my announcement I set out a clear vision for Senior Cycle, building upon the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s (NCCA’s) Advisory Report. The NCCA’s review of senior cycle involved an extensive range of research, consultations and communications with a wide range of stakeholders.
In particular, the second phase of the NCCA's review, which took place over 2018 and 2019, involved a school review and national seminar series. Teachers, students and parents in a representative cross-section of schools nationwide took part in a review of the existing senior cycle.
The third phase of the review also invited individuals and organisations, including teachers and teacher representative organisations, to participate in a public consultation process, leading to the publication of a Public Consultation Report in December 2019.
The NCCA also commissioned external expertise to support the process, including the ESRI and the OECD.
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received correspondence from the organisation referred to regarding that announcement. This correspondence is currently being examined by my officials, and a response will issue shortly.