Education Committee to hear concerns on Junior Cycle framework

26 November 2013

From the next school year, significant reforms to the junior cycle to be phased-in will involve most students studying a maximum of eight subjects as well as the introduction of short courses and school based assessment.   Discussions tomorrow are expected to focus on the capacity of schools to give effect to the reforms, the need for adequate resources and preparations for the new Framework, as well as how the Physical Education and Civic Social and Political Education (CSPE) subjects will be delivered in the new framework.

Committee Chair Joanna Tuffy TD says: “The new Framework for the Junior Cycle represent the most important reforms since the Junior Certificate programme itself was introduced in 1990. The Committee has actively followed the progress on the introduction of the new Framework, hosting a meeting on the status of history in the new curriculum with interested stakeholders earlier in June. Tomorrow, we will have an opportunity to hear from one of the main teachers’ unions on their broad concerns around the capacity of the education system to deal with the reforms. We will also hear from interested stakeholders on the status of the important subjects of CSPE and PE within the new reforms.

“The ASTI, while acknowledging the potential of the new cycle to improve educational experiences for 12 to 15 year olds, has highlighted that schools are not being given the adequate training time and supports to implement the new Cycle. The Irish Heart Foundation are before the Committee to express their concerns about the optional nature of PE in the new cycle, and the fact that it may not be offered at all in some schools. Meanwhile, the Irish Human Rights Commission have argued that CSPE should remain a compulsory state examinable subject in the Junior Cycle.”

Separately, the Committee will consider a series of EU legislative proposals COM(2013)60; COM(2013)635;COM(2013)703; COM(2013)706 and COM(2013)707. Representatives from Ceartas (Irish Lawyers for Human Rights) will also address the Committee on concerns relating to the accreditation of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland’s facility in Bahrain.  

The meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 27 November at 1 pm in Committee Room 4, LH 2000. Committee proceedings can be followed live here.

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Committee Membership
    
Deputy Joanna Tuffy - Chair

Deputies James Bannon, Ray Butler, Joan Collins, Clare Daly, Brendan Griffin , Jim Daly, Derek Keating, Charlie McConalogue, Nicky McFadden, Jonathan O’Brien, Willie O’Dea, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Brendan Ryan
Senators Terry Brennan, Jim D'Arcy, Marie Moloney, Mary Moran, Marie-Louise O’Donnell, Averil Power