Olwyn Enright
Ceist:142 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if he intends to introduce foundation level English at leaving certificate level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10378/03]
Written Answers. - State Examinations.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, has statutory responsibility for advising me on curricular matters. I understand that when the current syllabi for leaving certificate English were developed, the considered advice of the NCCA was to provide two syllabi – at ordinary level and higher level.
Currently, the NCCA is conducting a general review of senior cycle, but at present, I have no plans to introduce a foundation level syllabus for leaving certificate English.
Olwyn Enright
Ceist:143 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if he intends to ensure that all secondary schools are in a position to offer the leaving certificate applied programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10379/03]
It is for the management authorities of individual schools to decide whether to seek approval for the leaving certificate applied.
The leaving certificate applied is one of the options of the revised senior cycle structure. Each year, all second level schools are invited to apply or reapply to provide the programme. Schools which express an interest in introducing the programme are provided with briefing and teacher in-service support by the leaving certificate applied support service.
Support for second level schools in the free education scheme which introduce the leaving certificate applied includes: an annual resource grant calculated on the basis of €158.72, £125, per leaving certificate applied student; grants for the purchase of necessary equipment and an enhanced teacher allocation.
The leaving certificate applied is currently being offered in 261 second level schools. A further 40 schools have indicated their intention to introduce the programme in September 2003.
Question No. 144 answered with Question No. 83.