Vol. 535 No. 2
131 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department has considered allowing individual schools discretion as to the way in which it can organise the structure of the six year post-primary cycle, especially regarding the location of the transition year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12277/01]
At present, all students in second level schools take a three-year junior cycle programme. Students may then take a one-year transition year programme, followed by a two-year leaving certificate programme, or may proceed directly to a two-year leaving certificate programme, comprising the established leaving certificate or the leaving certificate vocational programme or the leaving certificate applied. At present, the transition year programme is offered by approximately two-thirds of all second level schools.
The present positioning of the transition year programme gives students space to mature at a key stage in their compulsory schooling, to enhance their study skills in order to make them more autonomous learners in their future studies, and to receive a reflective introduction to the world of work. The other transition points in second level students' lives are the transfer from primary to second level school and the transfer from second level school to the workforce or to third level study. Students in their first year of attendance at second level schools would not be ready for the kind of experiences that the transition year as currently positioned can offer. The development of the whole person that can be achieved by a good transition year programme could not be achieved at that stage. If the transition year programme was offered at the point of entry to third level study or to the workforce, students might not be willing to stay in school for the extra year. The experiences gained in transition year could not influence their approach to subject choice or their study habits for the leaving certificate.
The format, structure and content of both the curriculum in its totality and individual subject syllabi are matters which are kept under review by my Department and the NCCA.
