Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
315. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the role that children's consultation played in the new primary school curriculum; the model that was used for this participation; and where the recommendations of children influenced the final policy. [54839/23]
View answerThe National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) advises the Minister for Education on matters relating to curriculum and assessment across early childhood, primary and post-primary education.
In February 2020, following processes of review, research and work with schools, the NCCA published the Draft Primary Curriculum Framework for consultation. The aim of the consultation was to ensure that any person or organisation that wished to express their views on the draft framework would be enabled to do so, and this was achieved through a range of methods for providing feedback.
In March 2020, researchers from Marino Institute of Education successfully tendered for a research project, commissioned by the NCCA, to consult with children on their views of the Draft Primary Curriculum Framework. This reflects an educational policy focus on the voice of the child as observed by The Chief Inspector’s Report 2016-2020 and more widely as represented in The National Framework for Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making.
Building on the Lundy Model of Participation, children from preschool settings, primary school and the first year of post-primary school were consulted on what they liked, disliked, and would change about learning in school. Amongst other questions, children were asked about how they like to learn, whether they felt they had autonomy or were given choices in school and about their priorities for learning in the 21st century.
The sample comprised twelve educational settings, which included two preschools, eight primary schools and two post-primary schools. The methodological approach was informed by Participative Learning Theories (PLTs) and Mosaic approaches putting the child at the centre of the research process. In preschools and the junior section of primary schools (Junior Infants to Second Class), children responded to questions orally in audio-recorded interviews and through drawings and worksheets. Questionnaires were used in the senior section of primary schools (Third to Sixth Class) and in the first year of post-primary school.
Key considerations for the finalisation of the Primary Curriculum Framework were identified, some of which included:
• Greater agency for children in the classroom
• Increase in the use of active learning strategies and inquiry-based approaches
• A focus on issues relating to diversity, other cultures, other languages, the environment and well-being
• Consideration of how to use the outdoor environment more for learning and provision of outdoor play resources
• Greater attention to how creative technologies are used in the classroom for learning purposes.
The extended findings from the consultation are documented on the NCCA website and available to the public.
In accordance with the Lundy Model of Participation, the findings of the consultation were brought to the relevant audience, in this case the Council of NCCA for consideration. The Council deliberated and responded by amending the Primary Curriculum Framework to reflect what they heard from the voices of children.
Some of these adjustments included:
• An updating of the Principles of Learning, Teaching and Assessment to promote greater agency in children’s learning, particularly within the principle of Engagement and Participation
• An adjustment to the description of the Key Competency ‘Being an Active Citizen’ to reflect children’s rights as full citizens of Ireland and their capacity to meaningfully participate in society at local, national, and global levels, and their ability to contribute positively and compassionately to creating a more sustainable and just world
• New statements on the nature of learning and the emphasis on play and inquiry-based learning approaches which lend themselves to children taking ownership and responsibility for their own learning
• The enhancement of the place of the outdoor environment to a greater extent
• A review of statements around the use of technology in the framework within the Key Competency of ‘Being a Digital Learner’ and curriculum area of Science, Technology and Engineering Education.
The Primary Curriculum Framework was approved by the Minister for Education and launched in March 2023.
NCCA remain committed to the incorporation of children’s voices in the redevelopment of the primary school curriculum and have recently partnered with Hub na nÓg within the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and the BEACONS project with the Teaching Council. All reports detailing this work can be found on the NCCA website.
