Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 16 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 6

Written Answers - Use of Textbooks in Examinations.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

140 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science whether he will consider allowing textbooks to be used in examinations in order to more accurately test the ability of students to use material creatively rather than simply recall information. [16763/97]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

It is true that the essential educative experience consists of the contact of young minds with the wisdom of the centuries, transmitted through textbooks, and not in memorisation of tracts from these books for regurgitation in an examination setting. However, it is also enriching for our pupils to stock their memories with certain passages from great works.

While permitting the use of textbooks in an examination centre might appear at first sight to be a progressive move, it is also possible that the presence of textbooks for reference, in an examination situation where pupils have a limited time in which to marshal their thoughts, could be a distraction. The whole thrust of teaching in our schools, especially in the teaching of English, is towards creative thinking rather than the unquestioning recall of data. The assessment modes endeavour to reflect this approach by not having an undue reliance solely on recall of information.