Vol. 487 No. 2
37 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether up to one third of pupils transferring to secondary schools have literacy problems seriously inhibiting their ability to undertake the prescribed curriculum. [3653/98]
I am aware that some pupils on transfer to second level schools have some literacy problems which inhibit their ability to undertake the prescribed curriculum. I am not aware of any evidence that up to one third of pupils transferring to second level schools have literacy problems.
A number of recent curricular changes have been introduced at second level to enable pupils with some literacy problems undertake the prescribed curriculum. Foundation level syllabi in English and Irish have been introduced at junior certificate level. A new junior certificate school programme has been provided in 80 schools to enable some pupils take a number of subjects to junior certificate level in addition to obtaining certification for other modules completed in the programme.
