asked the Minister for Education if he will indicate in relation to the school transition year: (a) the number and names of the schools that applied; (b) the names of these schools that were successful; and (c) the amount of teaching which should be done by the co-ordinator.
Written Answers. - School Transition Year Programmes.
96.
A total of 201 schools applied for approval for transition year programmes for the school-year 1986-87. A total of 111 schools were given approval. I would not wish to give the names of the schools involved without their consent. If, however, the management authorities concerned concur I shall supply the names to the Deputy as requested.
The amount of teaching to be done by any teacher is essentially a matter for the school management subject to the minimum requirements specified in the regulations.
97.
asked the Minister for Education in relation to the school transition year, whether the failure of his Department to communicate their decision on the applications until 6 June, which was the day the schools were closing for summer holidays, caused great inconvenience and uncertainty to the schools in question; and if he will ensure that the application and decision date next year is much earlier.
Schools were informed of my Department's decision in regard to their applications for a transition year for the school-year 1986-87 by letter issued on 28 May 1986. My Department had originally intended to have these decisions made three weeks earlier. However, problems arising from the teachers' dispute, relating in particular to the certificate examinations this year, created a substantial amount of additional work for the staff of my Department, and as a result it was not found possible to meet this target. I do not foresee any problems at this juncture in relation to the timely issue of approvals for the school-year 1987-88.