Vol. 452 No. 3
8 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education the steps, if any, she will take to introduce an oral English assessment at junior and leaving certificate levels for the academic year 1996/1997; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8013/95]
I do not propose to introduce an oral assessment component for the junior certificate English examination in the 1996-97 school year. When this revised syllabus was introduced for examination for the first time in 1992 it was indicated that an oral-aural component might be introduced.
As indicated in the White Paper, I intend to establish an implementation group before the middle of July to draw up a detailed timetable and programme for a fundamental restructuring of the assessment carried out at the end of junior cycle.
There is no provision at present for oral assessment in English at leaving certificate level. I am, however, awaiting proposals shortly from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment for a revision of the leaving certificate English syllabus.
My question is more specific in that it relates to oral and aural assessment in the English language at junior and leaving certificate levels rather than a general review of the curricula. Does the Minister consider it absurd that since we place great emphasis on the importance of oral assessment in the Irish language and modern European languages and consider it as a fundamental part of the language education process, we do not place as much emphasis on the importance of such assessment in the fundamental working language of students? Will the Minister agree the most fundamental skill we can impart to our young people before they leave school is a basic competency in and mastery of the English language at oral and aural levels?
The question asked what steps the Minister will take to introduce an oral English assessment at junior and leaving certificate levels for the academic year 1996-97 and the answer is that I do not propose to introduce such an assessment. An implementation group will be set up before July to consider this matter. When the junior certificate was introduced we expected that the full range of curricular objectives would be realised. This question is related to the difficult issue of school-based assessment. Deputy Martin will realise there are difficulties in the teaching profession about the introduction of school-based assessment, and the purpose of setting up the implementation group is to break the impasse resulting from the position taken specifically by the ASTI against school-based assessment.
The intention is to introduce a competency test in the leaving certificate, but there are difficulties involved. This matter must be considered together with all the people involved. The implementation group will put proposals to the Minister in this regard. While I would not use such a word as "absurd", I recognise we share a common belief that education is tested not only on written ability. Competency in the English language is important and the way we test such competency would best be considered in partnership with the teachers, managerial bodies and all those involved in education.
That is not an issue.
Let us not forget the need for brevity at this stage.
An oral Irish examination has existed for years at leaving certificate level, as have oral and aural examinations in continental languages. Why does the same not apply in regard to the English language?
Such a system will not be introduced in 1996-97, but there are intentions to examine the matter. Aural examinations are held at leaving certificate level and there are plans to introduce a communications unit at that level. We intend to move forward by ensuring the oral competency of students is judged in schools.
