asked the Minister for Education if he proposes to expand the role and function of the curriculum development unit of the Dublin city VEC; and if he will make a comprehensive statement with regard to its future.
19.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Dublin VEC Unit .
18.
asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on his decision not to recognise the City of Dublin VEC/TCD intermediate certificate course as and from 1979; and if he is aware of the popularity of that course.
: With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 19 together. The unit referred to was established in 1972 by the City of Dublin VEC in co-operation with the School of Education of the University of Dublin and with the approval of the Department of Education for the purpose of undertaking a particular project during the period 1972-76. This project related to the feasibility of (a) developing curricula suited to the needs of students in the 12-15 age group; (b) developing new forms of assessment consonant with the aims of the curricula; (c) providing a direct link with the new primary school curriculum.
The activities of the unit have been concentrated in the following areas: (a) An Integrated Science Curriculum Innovation Project (ISCIP) which would integrate the teaching of biology, physics and chemistry in a practically-based pupil-centred science programme; (b) A Humanities Curriculum, which would integrate the teaching of English, history, geography and civics and enable the pupil to cope with his environment; (c) An Outdoor Education Project which would develop an out-of-class dimension to the curriculum by helping schools to plan and carry out field studies.
To facilitate the work of the unit the Department of Education agreed to implement and alternative examination structure on a temporary provisional basis in the science and humanities groups of subjects for both the group and intermediate certificate examinations.
The period of time for the completion of the projects was extended beyond 1976 and it is at present proposed to continue the special arrangements for the alternative examination structures until 1979 in order to enable the 1976 in-take of pupils involved in the experiment to complete their integrated studies course.
It has been decided that at this stage an objective evaluation of the pilot programmes which were undertaken for the purpose of the project is required with a view to ascertaining the extent to which the curricula developed by the unit could be integrated into the general educational system. I am arranging for this evaluation to be undertaken by the curriculum unit of my Department.
I have agreed that the City of Dublin VEC Unit should be continued until August, 1981, for the purpose of undertaking an agreed development of programmes in the area of preparation for working life in connection with a project which may be accepted by the EEC Commission. The Commission will be prepared to subsidise programmes to the extent of 50 per cent of approved expenditure. A programme in this context to identify potential drop-outs and to devise and implement a curriculum suitable to their needs which was submitted to my Department by the City of Dublin VEC has been accepted for financial assistance by the EEC Commission for completion over a three-year period—1978-81.
I may also add that it would be my intention that the VEC curriculum unit might furnish such supportive services as would be appropriate to the pupils' transfers committee which I have already established, and that it might also be involved in relation to measures affecting the introduction of the careers' foundation course.
If further discussions with the Department of Education in regard to the matter are desired by representatives of the City of Dublin VEC arrangements will be made accordingly.
: Despite the fact that there appears to be agreement to extend until 1981, would the Minister clarify whether or not the curriculum development unit will remain as a central educational element in the work of the VEC involved?
: I would hope it would. I appreciate very much the work they have been doing.
: Would the Minister agree that any interference with or termination of the work on the alternative examination modes would make the work of the unit fairly pointless and that if there was to be this proposed cutting-off point then inevitably the unit would be wound up?
: I do not accept for one moment that the work would be pointless if not related to an examination. I stated in the course of my reply that there was a possibility of the curricula developed by the unit being integrated into the general education system and that possibility is so flattering of the work of the unit that I have no need to speak about it any further.
: Is the Minister aware of the almost universal condemnation of the recent decision by his Department to terminate the work in relation to the examination modes?
: I have seen some reports about this.
: Are they all wrong?
: I have consulted the people on the ground and I have great faith in the person who is involved in the actual scheme. I am convinced by them that the curricular developments of this unit are well worth while. I am very flexible with regard to years. I want to have a look at the work which has been done with a view to putting in on a larger stage. Surely the Deputy will not complain about that.
: I am delighted. I take it there is no question of its being run down.
: That is what I said.
: Would the Minister not agree that there is a fundamental in consistency between, on the one hand, his holding out the possibility of integrating this particular type of curriculum development into the system as a whole and, on the other hand, terminating its evaluation procedures?
: I have not said that I am terminating its evaluation procedures. I was quite specific in stating the year up to which the examination will be made available. I was quite specific in saying that my Department are now having a look as what has happened and that the possibility of the work being incorporated in the general scheme of things was high.