Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024
179. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education when applications will be open for expressions of interest for the 2024/2025 transition year pilot programme; if she will provide information on how schools can apply (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18506/24]
View answerTransition Year is a valuable optional programme for students that offers opportunities for life skills, personal, social and academic development and experience of adult and working life.
In 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 from 2024. The updated Programme Statement will replace the current Transition Year Guidelines for Schools document which were introduced in schools in 1994.
The introduction of the revised Programme Statement will include the provision of professional support by Oide to teachers and schools in terms of continuous professional development. I will also be providing additional funding to support Transition Year on top of the restoration of the capitation funding already committed to.
At the recent TUI Annual Congress I spoke to developments at Transition Year, including ongoing work in my Department to support schools to provide “taster” modules where their students have opportunities to experience aspects of an apprenticeship programme or life in a Further Education and Training College.
I also stated my belief that TY offers a space for the rollout of a new road safety module. Tackling road safety challenges is a cross-society effort. My Department and I are keenly aware of the important role that schools, and the education sector, can play in supporting road safety education and awareness.
For a number of years, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has been involved in providing a comprehensive and integrated road safety education programme at all levels: pre-school, primary, post-primary, third level, and in the wider community.
As part of this important work, the RSA has developed a range of tailored material that teachers can use to educate school children about road safety. These materials are available on the RSA website.
I am very acutely aware that school communities have unfortunately seen the horrific consequences of road collisions at first hand. They have helped their students to cope with the loss of classmates on the roads with the assistance of psychologists from NEPS. I know that we are all united in our desire to play our part in reducing the number of road deaths and the devastation experienced by the families left behind.
I met with the Road Safety Authority recently and welcomed their work to enhance the accessibility of their education programmes for schools.
As part of this work, I have specifically asked them to develop a new Transition Year module that could be introduced in schools from the 2024/2025 school year, as an immediate first step in helping to change road safety culture among young people.
Transition Year presents an opportunity to equip this particular cohort with the knowledge and life skills needed at a formative time in their lives – including an understanding of the risks associated with road use, and an appreciation of same.
The RSA has convened a number of focus groups with students and teachers to support the development of the revised TY module. The module will replace the existing RSA TY module which was designed in 2009. The new module is examining how best to utilise technologies and practical experiences for students, which were not available in the design of the previous module.
My Department looks forward to working with the RSA over the coming months to support their work in developing the new TY module in particular, as well as its wider work in promoting road safety in our schools. We will also be looking to work with schools in its development, details of which will be announced in due course.
