Enda Kenny
Ceist:162 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to introduce new subjects in secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26529/03]
Written Answers. - School Curriculum.
Arabic and Japanese have been introduced as optional subjects at leaving certificate level and these will be examined in the leaving certificate examination in 2004 and following years. For the first time, a syllabus in religious education at leaving certificate level is being offered from September 2003 to those schools in which pupils took the religious education junior certificate examination in June 2003. Other schools will be invited to apply in subsequent years. This subject will be examined in the leaving certificate examination in June 2005 and following years.
Although not a new subject, there is a new requirement for all second level schools to timetable social, personal and health education, SPHE, as part of the junior cycle core curriculum from September 2003. Schools were issued with copies of the syllabus in August 2000. The SPHE programme has been phased in from September 2000.