Mary Coughlan
Ceist:74 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to introduce a modular system for all subjects in the junior certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12662/96]
Written Answers. - Junior Certificate Modules.
The White Paper, Charting Our Education Future, indicates that each school will be expected to provide students with experience across a number of curricular areas at junior certificate level. The White Paper also indicates that some of these curricular areas e.g. guidance, social, personal and health education including relationships and sexuality education, civic, social and political education may best be provided in the form of short courses or modules.
Already civic, social and political education is being introduced as a short or modular course of 70 hours duration over three years. Social, personal and health education will be introduced in a similar manner.
I do not have any plans to introduce a modular system for all subjects in the junior certificate. The White Paper indicates that modular and short courses on a variety of subject areas will be developed and introduced gradually to junior certificate students.
I have recently requested the council to recommend what should constitute the core curriculum for the junior cycle. In that context I await proposals from the council on any other modular or short courses that might be provided at junior cycle level.