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School Curriculum

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 May 2010

Thursday, 6 May 2010

Ceisteanna (17)

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

16 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take in order to make science subjects more appealing to secondary school students in view of revelations that growing numbers of students are not taking any science subjects. [18316/10]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department is fully committed to strengthening the quality of science teaching and learning, promoting increased scientific literacy and encouraging more students, both girls and boys, to choose science subjects.

Science was introduced as a key component on the revised Primary School Curriculum and has been implemented in all schools since September 2003. An evaluation of implementation of the revised science curriculum by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has indicated that students have very positive attitudes towards science, engaging in hands-on-science and working collaboratively with their friends in small groups.

A revised syllabus in Junior Certificate Science was introduced in 2003, supporting by an investment of €16m in resources and facilities, and it was examined for the first time in June 2006. The syllabus, with its hands-on investigative approach and its strong emphasis on scientific process skills, requires the completion of some 30 mandatory experiments. It is designed to enhance the attractiveness and relevance of the subject and encourage more students to continue the subject in senior cycle. The proportion of students who sat Science in the Junior Certificate 2009 is 87.2% compared with 87.5% the previous year and 87.3% in 2007.

In senior cycle, the proportion of students sitting Biology in the Leaving Certificate has increased substantially from 39.8% in 2002 to 51.8% in 2009. In Physics, participation was 15.6% in 2002 and 12.8% in 2009. In Chemistry, participation was 11.7% in 2002 and 13.6% in 2009. An important element of the Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation is to increase the proportions of students studying the physical sciences in senior cycle. Revised draft syllabuses in Physics, Chemistry and Biology have been developed by the NCCA which provided a strong focus on practical investigative approaches and practical assessment, as a follow on from the changes introduced at junior cycle in 2003. However, the Council is currently trialling assessment approaches in schools, prior to submitting its advice to my Department.

Some €2.1m per annum is allocated to the Discover Science and Engineering programme, funded by FORFAS, to promote the take up of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in schools and colleges, as well as an awareness of the importance of these disciplines in wider society. The programme includes activities under Science Week, Science clubs in schools, Science Excellence Awards, conferences and lectures, science quizzes and media initiatives. Discover Science also promotes measures to promote awareness of career options in science and engineering, and to disseminate information on role models in these areas. CareersPortal.ie, which is used widely as a guidance tool in schools, also provides information on science careers.

The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, now in its 47th year, attracted 1,616 applicant projects in 2010. These were screened to select 520 projects for the exhibition, and some 34,000 people visited the event, making it one of the largest of its kind in Europe. In addition, SciFest, a series of one day science fairs hosted by the Institutes of Technology, provides competitions, prize giving, science talks, laboratory demonstrations and opportunities for students to exhibit their work. The rapid increase in participation in SciFest, which is now being offered in each Institute of Technology is a clear indication of the interest and enthusiasm among students and teachers in the investigative approach to teaching and learning science.

I am aware of the recent ASTI report based on responses from 334 teachers of Junior Certificate science which indicates that 14% of schools have dropped a Leaving Certificate science subject from the curriculum this year, and indicates a teacher view that a further 20% are likely to drop a science subject next year. My Department's records indicate that 53 post-primary schools discontinued a science subject in the 2009/2010 school year while 10 schools introduced a new science subject to their curriculum in the same year. It is open to a school to apply for a curricular concession where it is unable to meet its curricular commitments within its approved allocation. Schools can also make an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeal Board. Some of the additional posts provided for in the renewed Programme for Government are also being used for increasing subject choice in post primary schools.

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