All practical aspects of introducing the new leaving certificate Phase 1 syllabus, including the provision of the necessary in-career programme, were considered by a special implementation group which I set up for this purpose in 1994. The group was chaired by the chief inspector of the Department of Education and included representatives from the joint managerial bodies, the Irish Vocational Education Association, the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools, the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland, the Teachers' Union of Ireland and the National Parents' Council — Post-primary. The group met four times up to 28 November 1994 and its agreed first report was published on 9 December.
All relevant issues, including the context of the examinations — oral, aural, practical and written — were considered by the group. As regards the provision of the in-career programme, the report of the group indicated that the delivery of the programme should take place in the last term of the 1994-95 school year and the first term of the 1995-96 school year.
At its meeting on 1 February 1995 the Advisory Committee on Post Primary In-Career, which includes representation from the Partners in Education, considered specific dates for the provision of the in-career programme. The dates proposed by the Department were agreed by the committee. Following this, the timetable for the programme was published to schools on 10 February 1995.
It is appreciated that there are difficulties attaching to the proposed timetable; the reality is that difficulties arise with all alternatives. It is for this reason that my Department engages in a full consultative process with the different partners. Some small modification of the proposed timetable are being considered but it is not practicable to amend substantially the programme at this stage. The programme has been designed to minimise overall disruption at school level, having regard to the range of activities, such as the examinations, which must be accommodated. The general question of when it is best to schedule in-career programmes is recognised as an important issue and is receiving careful study; plans for 1996 will take account of the experience this year.
