Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
440. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if her Department would consider plans to expand the transition year programme to include modules supporting vocational skills and life skills such as first aid, culinary skills, road safety and driving education, or any potential partnerships or collaborations for implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47381/23]
View answerTransition Year is a valuable programme for students that offers opportunities for life skills, personal, social and academic development and experience of adult and working life. Transition Year programmes are designed at school level and based on a multi-layered approach. Under the Transition Year (TY) Programme, the management authority of each school carries responsibility for making decisions regarding the TY Programme in that school.
The Board of Management provides direction and oversight of the subjects and education programmes offered by a school and the Board makes the final decision about the type and nature of programmes to offer, taking into account all available resources. In that regard, if a school opts to provide TY, each school designs its own TY programme, within set guidelines, to suit the needs and interests of its students and the language medium of the school.
In March 2022, 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. As part of the broader redevelopment of Senior Cycle, I announced that a new Transition Year Programme Statement would be developed and introduced for schools in 2024.Work on the development of the revised Transition Year Programme Statement is well-advanced within the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s (NCCA) structures. A new and revised Transition Year Programme Statement was drafted and available for public consultation until 20 October 2023. The draft Statement is available on the NCCA’s website.
