Michael Bell
Ceist:27 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education and Science his intentions in relation to music education in the west of Ireland. [16724/97]
Written Answers - Music Education.
My Department is committed to the provision of access to music education in schools. A new programme in music education at primary level is being finalised at present. This will involve a rebalancing of the current programme to take appropriate account of performance and critical-appreciative activities. An innovative syllabus at junior certificate was introduced in 1991 and a new leaving certificate syllabus was introduced in September 1997.
A comprehensive programme of in-career development on the implementation of the new leaving certificate syllabus has been put in place. This has included cluster meetings of music teachers and music technology courses in nine venues in the west. In addition, all schools teaching leaving certificate music receive in-school support from a member of the Curriculum Support Team, based in Tuam. Many schools in the west also take part in the annual choir and orchestra examinations organised by my Department.