asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the examination of costs for the implementation of the proposed new junior certificate courses carried out by the principal of the vocational education committee school in Athy, County Kildare; if, arising from this, she will give an estimate of the cost of implementing the proposal in County Kildare and in each other county and vocational education committee area affected; and it she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Junior Certificate Courses.
31.
It is clearly indicated to schools in the introductory circulars that the new junior cycle syllabuses were to be implemented within existing resources allocations. The new syllabuses do not represent so radical a departure from the existing syllabuses as to necessitate the provision of a vast array of new equipment and materials. The main thrust of the new syllabuses is in approach and methodology rather than on content. Hence, the provision by the Department of additional funds was directed towards the in-service training of teachers who would be called upon to implement the syllabuses. The overall in-service training allocation for 1989 is £698,000 compared with £311,000 in 1988, an increase of 124 per cent.
The inventory of materials submitted by the Athy school is quite unrealistic and would seem to imply that the existing syllabuses were being taught there without any equipment or materials. It is a matter for the school management authorities to prioritise their budget spending in accordance with perceived needs.