asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development the form which the review of "the pattern" of post-primary participation, as outlined in the Green Paper, paragraph 7.32 is to take; the interests which will be consulted; and when the review will be completed.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Post-Primary Education.
11.
: That is one of the matters which will be dealt with in the White Paper on future educational development in Ireland which will be issued in due course.
: Despite the fact that it is to be dealt with in greater detail in the future, I would ask the Minister for a justification of the express need for the review of the pattern of post-primary participation and precisely what that means. This is the type of language that politicians and other interested people find difficult enough to understand and which I am sure the public would find impossible to understand. What is the pattern involved and why does it need to be reviewed?
: Because if the economy is changing very rapidly and there are growing needs for certain types of skill, some being traditional and others new forms of skill, it is clearly desirable that the educational system and allied training systems should be capable of producing the numbers of skilled and qualified personnel required. Therefore it is valid to review from time to time the relative emphasis on different forms of educational course.
: Stressing that I have been pressing the Minister for Education to review the curriculum, is the Minister now suggesting that the curriculum in schools is about to be reviewed in line with the review of the pattern of post-primary participation? Are we talking about student numbers, allocation of places to students, finance for education or the structure of education? What does the pattern mean? Will it include curriculum reform?
: I would hope that the scope of the review would be sufficiently broad to encompass most, if not all, of the factors mentioned by the Deputy.
: Has the Minister a specific list of items to be reviewed within this context?