Helen Keogh
Ceist:302 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Education if she will set up a task force to explore the way in which her Department can best introduce a course to teach children aged 9 to 11 years how to think.
Written Answers. - Development of Cognitive Skills.
As you are aware, in the recent Green Paper "Education for a Changing World", there was a strong reference to the need to promote the development of critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in pupils. Teachers need to keep this actively in mind in their work. Many of the activities and strategies recommended in various systematized programmes used elsewhere are in fact in use in many areas of the curriculum in our schools. They are generally used incidentally and informally to teach concepts, skills and attitudes implicit in the curriculum. The development of pupils' cognitive abilities is already a key aim of the primary school curriculum, not merely with pupils between the ages of nine and 11 years, but right through the entire 8-year cycle of primary education and beyond. It is felt that the development of pupils' ability can best be promoted through the medium of the normal curriculum rather than through introducing a new curriculum area of course.
The primary curriculum is at present under review by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. It has established expert course committees representative of all primary education interests to look at the various areas of the curriculum including those aspects which develop the ability of children to think critically and creatively. In that context I do not think that it would be appropriate to establish the task force referred to in the question.