asked the Minister for Education if any analysis has been made of the value of the new curriculum in primary schools, if so, the results of this analysis and the plans, if any, to carry out a complete review of the curriculum.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Primary School Curriculum.
10.
An analysis was made of the value of the new curriculum in primary schools by Dr. J. Kelleghan and Dr. Patricia Fontes of the Educational Research Centre, Drumcondra, in 1976. This analysis or evaluation was carried out by issuing to principal teachers a questionnaire relating to implementation of the curriculum and to changes in standards of attainment in schools during the preceding five years. Replies to this questionnairs were intended to reflect the opinions of all members of school staffs in a representative sample of 489 schools.
The findings of this evaluation indicate that the new curriculum has had considerable impact on the work of primary schools and that its effects on the attainments of pupils have been largely beneficial. Particular improvements were noted in the standard of attainment in English, mathematical concepts and in Irish reading. These findings also report a high degree of agreement with the basic concepts underlying the new curriculum. A large majority of schools and of teachers were achieving a reasonably high level of implementation of the curriculum as reflected in the basic principles already mentioned.
When the curriculum unit was established in the Department itself, one of the first duties assigned to it was to undertake an on-going in-depth review of the curriculum itself. The teaching of mathematics was examined in detail by special sub-committee assembled for this purpose. Tests were administered to pupils in second and fourth classes and a report was published. It stated, inter alia, that: the results of the tests show that number facts are well known and that the vast majority of the pupils tested have mastered basic computational skills.
The second edition of this report will be published shortly. Reports on the teaching of Irish and physical education have been compiled but as yet have not been published. As part of the in-depth review of English, tests are currently being administered to pupils of fourth and fifth classes in a representative sample of schools. A detailed report will issue in due course.
Each curricular area is being closely studied and carefully evaluated and this process will continue as part of the on-going review.
Would the Minister agree that there are doubts in some areas as to the basic abilities of pupils entering the second level system and that these possibly unfounded doubts arise from the methods of teaching selected from the particular curriculum within the primary system?
I am not quite sure that I understand the question but there are problems, as the Deputy knows, in a transfer from the child to the teacher centred institution. It was for that reason that I established a transfers committee to find out how, specifically in reference to the subject matter taught, the transition from primary to post-primary could be done without educationally damaging pupils.
The first section of the report indicates that a more beneficial teaching output would be had by the teachers if the pupil-teacher ratio were to be dropped to a lower level.
As the Deputy knows, this lowering of the pupil-teacher ratio in the primary schools has been my priority. I have met with some considerable success in the provision of teachers and also in the provision of remedial teachers to deal with this problem.
The Minister stated that the new curriculum was largely beneficial. That is a very loose description of the impact of the new curriculum on the educational system. Is the Minister aware that one of the major drawbacks is that it is not more beneficial because the Department have consistently refused to provide in-service training for teachers who are not trained in the new curriculum concept? Would he care to comment on that? Is there any hope in the future for the provision of such in-service training courses for those teachers?
I said in my reply that it was largely beneficial. I meant of course that there was a substantial improvement in the education provided because of the introduction of the new curriculum. The Department, on the inauguration of the new curriculum, provided for the training of teachers in the new curriculum methods. All the teachers who are qualified year by year now——
What about training courses?
Is leor nod don eolach. The teachers themselves have communicated with the Department and have indicated that they found these courses very beneficial indeed.
Ba mhaith liom cheist eile a chur ar an Aire. Nach iad an múinteoirí fhéin a chur na cúrsaí ar fáil maidir le múinteoirí náisiúnta gan aon Aire nó ón Roinn Oideachais?
Níl sé sin fíor. Cuireadh airgead ar fáil dos na hionaid mhúinteoireachta agus bhí cursaí ag na múinteoirí sna hionaid sin agus ba é an Roinn Oideachais a chuir na hionaid ar fáil dos na múinteoirí. Níl sé fíor a rá nár tugadh airgead chun na hoidí d'ullmhú an curriculum nua.
Is iad na múinteoirí fhéin a chuir an chuid is mó dhe ar fáil.
Gan na múinteoirí ní bheadh oideachas againn.
Question No. 11 is for written answer.