Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 3

Written Answers. - School Curriculum.

Michael Ferris

Ceist:

88 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps, if any, taken or envisaged by him to fulfil the commitment made in An Action Programme for the Millennium to modify the school curriculum to place more emphasis on cultural and artistic activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6897/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I have taken a number of steps to fulfil this commitment. I am engaged in ongoing bilateral discussions with my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands on this matter. A formal liaison committee has been established between our two Departments and An Chomhairle Ealaíon, the Arts Council. The terms of reference of this committee are to assess the development and implementation of the school curriculum in the context of helping to ensure that the curriculum places more emphasis on cultural and artistic activities as promised in the programme for Government.

There have been two full meetings of the liaison committee. During those meetings, the following issues have been discussed: the arts in the primary sector; the arts in the post-primary sector and arts education personnel at both levels.

In the context of the arts plan which was initiated by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, a series of consultations have taken place under the auspices of An Chomhairle Ealaíon, one of these was specifically on the arts and education. Joint partnership on the place of the arts in school curricula between my Department, the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and the Arts Council was seen as very desirable by those involved.

The newly-revised primary curriculum will place much greater emphasis on the arts in the classroom in that it will contain a specific curricular area designated "arts education", comprising visual arts, music and drama, while dance will be an integral part of the physical education programme. In addition, the Irish and English programmes will place proper emphasis on cultural aspects of language learning such as story-telling, poetry, legends, festivals, local lore and place-names.

In mainstream art offered as a subject in second-level schools, important developments have been taking place. A revised junior certificate syllabus has been successfully implemented. A revised leaving certificate syllabus is at an advanced stage. A number of initiatives have gone outside the classroom and linked the world of artists and art galleries with the pupils' artistic development in the classroom.