asked the Minister for Education if he agrees with the view that there is need for a major review of curricula in schools; and the proposals he has in this respect.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Curricula Review.
8.
Reviewing and evaluating the primary school curriculum is an on-going process. It is recommended in the introductory chapters of "Curaclam na Bunscoile" that "research and regular evaluation will be necessary if the curriculum is to keep pace with changing conditions". A curriculum unit, one of whose functions is to review and evaluate all apsects of the curriculum, was set up in the Department in 1976. While the matter will receive my continuing attention, I have no immediate proposals for a major review of the primary school curriculum.
As regards the post-primary schools a major review of the curriculum was carried out in conjuction with the school authorities, the teachers' associations and the universities. As a result a major restructuring of the curriculum was introduced with effect from 1969. Arrangements were also made at that time to keep the syllabuses in the various subjects under review by syllabuses comittees and standardising committees representative of the same interests. This scheme is operating to the general satisfaction of the schools, the teachers and the universities.
As I stated in reply to Question No. 10 on 2 March 1978, a committee is at present in process of being established to examine the problems arising in the transitional year from primary to secondary schools.
It is appreciated that there seems to be a substantial amount of revaluation and review going on. Could the Minister tell us what his own view is with regard to the kernel of this question, that is the need for a curriculum which reflects changes in education and changes in society? Would he comment as to whether or not it is the case that review in such curricula is very slow and is almost negligible in most cases despite what he says?
I would not accept the Deputy's suggestion that review is slow and negligible.
Almost negligible.
I reject that suggestion also. If the Deputy had listened carefully to the answer I gave he would see that it is continuing in the Department, both at primary and post-primary levels.
While the Minister believes that everybody on this side of the House today has difficulty in listening carefully to his answers I assure him I am listening carefully. Would he accept that I am not so concerned about review in the Department? I am talking about the impact of this on the day to day life of the children, which is fundamentally what education is about.
Surely the Deputy will accept that the people who are dealing with this in the Department are not out of touch with reality. They are living in the world, they know the needs of the world, they know the need for changes in the curricula and they are fully conversant with the problems relating to change in the curricula. The Deputy would lead one to believe that there are several different worlds enclosed in airtight containers without any relationship to each other. I cannot accept that.
Last week the Minister said he would not lose his temper.
I am not losing my temper.
I accept there is review in the Department and I am not reflecting on officials of the Department. I am only asking when will the teaching staff and the students benefit in a real way from whatever deliberations have been going on for so many years in the Department?
The teaching staff at primary and post-primary levels and the pupils at primary and post-primary levels have experienced a massive change in curricula over the recent past and the Deputy knows that very well.
This is being done after 30 years.