Paul Kehoe
Question:472. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education whether she is considering including Ukrainian as an exam subject on the second level curriculum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12479/24]
View answerWednesday, 20 March 2024
Questions (472)
Written answers
Meeting the educational needs of children and young people from Ukraine is a priority for the Government, and my Department is determined to support the efforts of school communities across the country, who have shown huge commitment and generosity. To assist with the transition of Ukrainian students and their families into Irish schools, Regional Education and Language Teams (REALT) continue to operate. These are hosted by the 16 regional education and training boards around Ireland and staffed by regionally-based education support personnel. These teams continue to make sure that clear, accessible information flows are in place between schools, local education support services and national support structures in relation to people arriving from Ukraine.
The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has responsibility for the operation, delivery and development of the State examinations. The SEC provides Leaving Certificate examinations in a range of subjects in the language area referred to as the non-curricular EU languages. These are languages which do not appear as part of the normal school curriculum but in which students may opt to be examined if they meet certain criteria. The examination model is based on that of the First Foreign Language final written examination of the European Baccalaureate, and is offered at Higher Level only. Having regard to Ireland’s national response to the war in Ukraine, and the principles that had been developed for the school sector which are informed by that position, my Department considered it appropriate that Ukrainian would also be examined as a non-curricular language for Leaving Certificate. In August 2022, my Department requested that the SEC develop a Leaving Certificate examination in Ukrainian as a non-curricular language. The SEC have advised that the first examination will be available for students sitting the Leaving Certificate in June 2025.