Richard Bruton
Ceist:283 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of hours that are being scheduled per week for the study of science at primary level. [16477/00]
Written Answers. - Science Study.
History, geography and science constitute the subject-block social, environmental and scientific education, SESE, in the revised primary curriculum. The recommended minimum weekly time-allocation for SESE as a whole is two hours 15 minutes for infants and three hours for classes I to VI. The three constituent subjects carry equal standing and should therefore be allocated a minimum of one third of the specified time, on average. However, because of the integrated nat ure of the primary curriculum and particularly the link which exist within SESE between science and geography, it is possible that more time would be dedicated to one subject than to another in any given week. It is intended that these differences would be evened out over the course of a school term or school year.
In addition, there is provision made in the revised curriculum for discretionary time of one hour per week for infants and two hours per week for classes I to VI. This time is to be allocated at the discretion of the school but each curricular area, including science, should receive its fair share of discretionary time over the school year.