asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position in regard to oral examinations for language subjects for the intermediate, leaving and matriculation certificate examinations and the steps he is taking to ensure that such oral examinations will be made available for all such subjects.
Written Answers. - Language Oral Examinations.
25.
Oral tests have been an integral part of the leaving certificate examination in Irish for many years and of the French —Alternative Mode—examination at intermediate certificate level since 1972. There is also provision in the regulations for the assessment, at intermediate level of oral proficiency in all modern languages which are included in the approved curriculum.
I have decided in principle that oral tests will be introduced into leaving certificate examination in modern continental languages on a phased basis in the eighties. As a first step in this direction, I have launched a pilot scheme, in French only, on an optional basis for candidates taking the leaving certificate examination in that subject in 1980.
My second step will be to convene a Syllabus Advisory Committee in French, which, with the benefit of the evaluation of this pilot project, will revise the syllabus in French with a view to incorporating this kind of test as an integral part of the leaving certificate examination in French in the mid-eighties. Similar committees will be set up for the same purpose in the case of German, Spanish and Italian.
My Department have no function in relation to the matriculation examinations.