Vol. 495 No. 2
189 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science whether the new syllabus in English will be further improved by introducing greater opportunities to use information technology as part of the ongoing work in the courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19730/98]
The use of information technology, IT, materials in the classroom can assist in achieving a key objective of the revised leaving certificate English syllabus in preparing students for the real language skills needed in adult life. The revised syllabus provides a number of opportunities for the use of IT. Through the use of e-mail and the Internet, IT can help students in preparing writing assignment material for a real audience and therefore ensuring closer attention to basic communication skills. Information technology can also help in the development of students' composing skills, for example, in drafting and revising existing material.
190 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that ordinary level English papers in the new syllabus require a study of far more poetry than higher level which makes it difficult for students who have been studying higher level to switch back to ordinary level later on; and if he will consider the possibility of modification in order that these changes can more easily be made by students. [19731/98]
In relation to the new leaving certificate English syllabus which will be examined for the first time in 2001, students taking the ordinary level course will not be required to study more poetry than those students taking the higher level course.
At higher level, a representative sample of the work of eight poets is prescribed for examination in 2001. It is expected that students will study a minimum of six poems by each of the eight prescribed poets — a total of 48 poems.
Students at ordinary level will be required to study a total of 36 selected poems comprising a sample of the work of 24 poets. Eight of these poets are those prescribed at higher level, accounting for 18 of the ordinary level poems. In the examination at ordinary level there will be a question set on one of these 18 poems, thus accommodating the student who wishes to transfer from higher level to ordinary level.
