Vol. 497 No. 5
346 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in introducing a new syllabus for each of the three leaving certificate science subjects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25616/98]
347 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science when the leaving certificate syllabi in biology, chemistry and physics were introduced; the plans, if any, he has to introduce a new syllabus for each subject; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25617/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 and 347 together.
The leaving certificate biology syllabus currently in use was introduced in 1970 and examined for the first time in 1972. The chemistry and physics syllabi were revised respectively in 1983 and 1984 and examined for the first time in 1985 and 1986.
When my Department received proposals from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment for a revised syllabus in the case of each of these three subjects, approval of the content of each syllabus was given quickly.
The delay in relation to the introduction of new syllabi in the case of physics and chemistry arose because no final proposals were received from the council in relation to how practical work should be assessed given that it was recommended that 15 per cent of the overall marks should be awarded for such assessment.
A feasibility study on the assessment of practical work in physics and chemistry was carried out by my Department in conjunction with the NCCA during 1997. The results indicated that the proposed model required further refinement. However, I decided in the summer of 1998 that the revised syllabi should be introduced from September 2000 and that the assessment of practical work, if any, should be delayed until the new syllabus has been examined at least twice, that is, until the year 2002.
