Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2023
228. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education when the JCSP review commenced; to outline the scope and guidelines for this review; when the review is expected to be concluded; when its findings will be issued; if it his intention to reopen the programme once the review is completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44022/23]
View answerThe Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) is a national programme sponsored by the Department of Education and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Introduced in 1996, it is a social inclusion programme that is aimed at students who are identified as being at risk of being socially or academically isolated or at risk of early school leaving before the (then) Junior Certificate has been achieved.
A review of the JCSP commenced in 2019, in line with the ‘Framework for Junior Cycle 2015’, which stated that the JCSP would be subject to a review when a substantial proportion of the Framework for Junior Cycle is in place. The review group is chaired by my Department and also includes representatives from key agencies. The remit of the review is as follows:
• Review the rationale for the JCSP and consider the extent to which the needs of the students undertaking JCSP are met through the Junior Cycle Framework.
• Identify how existing JCSP supports are utilised.
• Identify the challenges facing schools in offering the JCSP.
• Explore potential means of improving how JCSP resources are coordinated and allocated including the JCSP Library project.
• Make recommendations regarding the JCSP.
The work of the review group was paused as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated necessary shift in work priorities and work is now ongoing to recommence the review.
