asked the Minister for Education the percentage of second level school students who took German in the leaving certificate examinations; and if he has any practical plans to encourage more schools to include this subject in the curriculum.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Leaving Certificate German Examination.
16.
A total of 3.5 per cent of school candidates who have entered for the leaving certificate examination in 1986 have been entered for German.
The syllabi for German have recently been radically reformed at both intermediate and leaving certificate levels.
The examinations in German at intermediate and leaving certificate have been reformed to take account of the syllabus changes. Listening tests involving tape recordings of authentic German were introduced in the 1985 examinations. This year face-to-face orals were held at leaving certificate for the first time.
I am confident that as a result of the reforms in syllabi and examinations the perception of German as a difficult language will change and that the numbers taking it will increase substantially.
I was never aware that there was a perception of German as a difficult language. Would the Minister agree that there has been a drop in the number of students taking German, since the figure quoted in 1984 was 4 per cent? In the light of the fact that Germany is the major investor in Ireland, after Britain, investing six times more than France, would the Minister agree that there is a distinct anomaly in that over 60 per cent of leaving certificate students take French while only 3.5 per cent take German? Has the Minister any practical proposals, arising out of the recent Dáil debate on education, for discriminating positively in relation to the supply of teachers of German to selected schools on an experimental basis?
It is not true to say that the numbers have been dropping. They have been increasing slightly and the figure of 4 per cent must have been a rough approximation. The actual numbers have increased from 1,595 in 1984 to 1,742 in 1986.
Yes, but there were more pupils taking the examination.
The percentage in 1984 was 3.48 per cent, while in 1985 it was 3.41 per cent. This year it is 3.5 per cent. The figure is static. I am anxious to see the study of German taken by more pupils but essentially there has to be a demand from parents and pupils. I should like to be able to contribute to the making of that demand and we have taken a very significant step in the changes made in the syllabus. It is now a much more interesting syllabus with less emphasis on the academic side of language learning and more emphasis on the practical use of the language as a means of communication.
That is not to say that the literary aspects will be neglected because obviously the language cannot be taken fully as a subject unless both the literary and communications aspects are covered. I hope we will see an increase in the number of students taking German. I am not aware that there is any difficulty with regard to teaching it. If a sufficient number offer for German I understand the facilities can be made available by my Department in terms of allocating extra teaching resources to take account of that demand. I would certainly not discourage any experiments by way of, perhaps, asking one or two institutions to concentrate on it and canvass support among parents and I will actively look into it to see if it should be done. Essentially we have to give the parents and the pupils the choice.
The Minister intimated that if necessary there would be provision of resources by the appointment of teachers of German to schools, but the cuts imposed on second level schools have meant that subjects such as this cannot be taken up in preference to core subjects. Would the Minister agree that in a European context we must know the language of the people with whom we are dealing? I take the Minister's point that he will provide extra teachers.
Yes, where there is a sufficient demand and all other things being equal. If only one or two students in a school wanted to take German it would probably be impossible. It is something that will have to be built up gradually. The position cannot be turned around overnight.