Vol. 376 No. 11
asked the Minister for Education the number of advisory groups, committees, commissions and review groups, she has established since taking office; the amount of money earmarked in the 1988 Estimates for each one: the terms of reference of each one; the composition of each one; and the time limit of the work of each one.
118.
asked the Minister for Education the amount of money earmarked in the 1988 Estimates for the various committees, advisory bodies, and review groups operating at present in her Department which were established by her since taking office; the title and terms of reference with time limits, if any, of each group; the composition of each group; and the plans, if any, she has to implement Circular 20/87 in 1988.
It is proposed to take the replies to Questions Nos. 116 and 118 together.
The particulars of advisory bodies, committees, commissions, review groups established by me since taking office as Minister for Education are set out in the Schedule attached.
With regard to the implementation of Circular No. 20/87, it is my intention that the terms of the circular will be implemented in 1988 subject to the decisions to be taken arising out of the work of the primary quota review body.
Schedule.
An Chomhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnúcháin.
The inaugural meeting of An Chomhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnúcháin was held on 8 December 1987. The Council will have a three year term of office.
The sum of £230,000 has been ear-marked in the 1988 Estimates for expenses for curriculum review. It is anticipated that this money will be spent under the aegis of the Council. The cost of salaries of the permanent staff of the Council — approximately £94,000 — are additional to this provision; making a total provision of £324,000 for the Curriculum Council for 1988.
The terms of reference of the Council are:
(1) To advise the Minister for Education on:
(a) the implementation of a new unified system of assessment at junior cycle level and related syllabus revision. The new certificate (the Junior Certificate) and its related examinations will replace the existing Intermediate and Day Vocational (Group) certificates and examinations.
(b) the development of an overall framework for senior cycle to provide a policy context within which the Council's course committees will operate.
(c) the co-ordination and rationalisation of the work of the various development and research agencies which are in receipt of State funding.
(2) To provide an annual report for the Minister on the standards attained in the Department's Certificate examinations.
(3) To review Rules and Programmes for Secondary Schools.
(4) To oversee the review of the primary school curriculum which is being carried out by the Primary Review Body which the Minister has set up.
The Council has a membership of sixteen, thirteen of whom are appointed on a representational basis. One member is to be nominated from each of the following groups or bodies:
(1) The Joint Managerial Body for Secondary Schools;
(2) the Irish Vocational Education Association;
(3) the Catholic Primary Schools Managers' Association;
(4) the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools;
(5) the Irish National Teachers' Organisation;
(6) the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland;
(7) the Teachers Union of Ireland;
(8) the Irish Federation of University Teachers;
(9) the National Parents' Council;
(10) the Confederation of Irish Industry;
(11) the Irish Congress of Trade Unions;
(12) the Department of Education Inspectorate;
(13) the Department of Education Administration.
The Council has been asked to plan its work on the implementation of the new unified system of assessment at junior cycle level towards a 1989-92 implementation schedule i.e. so that in 1992 all subjects will be certificated under the new Junior Certificate.
Primary Quota Review Committee
The Committee is in course of being established.
No specific allocation of funds has been made in respect of this Committee.
The purposes of the Committee will be to see how, within the limits of expenditure laid down in the 1988 Book of Estimates, the best possible arrangements can be made in the deployment of teachers, the size of classes and the organisation of our primary schools generally. In particular, the Committee will concentrate on any difficulties which may arise in certain schools following the issue of Circular 20/87 where the implementation of the circular would create unacceptably large classes. It will be the responsibility of the Committee, to act under the following guidelines:——
(1) problems will be examined on a school by school and class by class basis;
(2) the average class size will be in the low thirties. The maximum size of any class will not exceed forty. Where, because of exceptional circumstances, it is impossible to adhere to this limit, the permission of the Review Committee and the Minister would be required;
(3) the effects on schools of population changes will be taken into account;
(4) special consideration will be given to schools in disadvantaged areas;
(5) special consideration will be given to the remedial needs of the school.
(6) existing remedial posts will not be affected by the changes under Circular 20/87, nor will special posts in disadvantaged areas; and
(7) class size must be appropriate to the actual size of the classroom.
Sanction for the retention of posts will rest with the Minister for Education.
It is intended that the Committee will complete its task in relation to Circular 20/87 before the end of March, 1988.
Two representatives of the school Managers' Association and two representatives from the Irish National Teachers' Organisation have been invited to act on the Committee, together with two officials from the Department.
Primary Curriculum Review Body.
The Review Body was established on 5 October, 1987.
The expenses of the Review Body will be met from the allocation for an Chomhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnúcháin.
The terms of reference of the Review Body are,
(a) To analyse the aims and objectives of the present Primary Curriculum. To identify how effectively these aims and objectives are being achieved with specific reference to Irish, English and Mathematics. Specific attention should also be paid to the last two years of Primary school and their alignment to the Post Primary curriculum.
(b) To examine what structures could be adopted which would ensure that the objectives outlined for the curriculum could be evaluated as the students progress through school.
(c) The review will also identify priorities for future developments within the curriculum and will recommend strategies for such developments.
(d) All existing data research will be made available to the Review Body and will be drawn on as appropriate.
The Review Body will submit its findings to the Minister within 12-15 months.
The Review Body has a membership of 17 comprising,
(i) eleven persons to be nominated by educational agencies,
(ii) four nominees of the Minister for Education including the Chairperson,
(iii) two inspectors who act as advisers to the Review Body.
The agencies with a right of nomination under (i) above are:
—The Irish National Teachers' Organisation
—The Catholic Primary School Managers' Association
—The Association of Primary Teaching Sisters
—The National parents' Council (primary tier)
—The Joint Managerial Body for Secondary Schools
—The Irish Vocational Education Association
—The Association of Secondary Teachers (Ireland)
—The Teachers' Union of Ireland.
Each of the above agencies is to nominate one member except the Irish National Teachers' Organisation which is to nominate four.
