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School Curriculum

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 May 2010

Thursday, 6 May 2010

Ceisteanna (19, 20)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

18 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills her views on the report of the expert group on future skills needs regarding the level of achievement in mathematics amongst students here; if she will implement the recommendations of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18070/10]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The OECD PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) 2006 survey of 15 years olds across 57 countries showed that Ireland's mean score in mathematics was not significantly different from the OECD average. We ranked 16th of 30 OECD countries and 22nd of 57 countries. There were fewer lower achievers and higher achievers than the OECD average, with the majority of pupils scoring in the mid range of achievement. When performance levels for mathematics in 2006 are compared with those in 2000 and 2003, there are no changes for Irish students.

The Report of the Expert Group calls for the introduction of bonus points for Higher Level Mathematics in the Leaving Certificate. I recently indicated my own view of the desirability of sending a clear signal to our second level students about the introduction of CAO bonus points for achievement in Leaving Certificate mathematics at higher level. Legally, the criteria for admission to higher education institutions are matters for decision by the institutions themselves. The Academic Councils of these institutions determine the admission arrangements for students. I have written to the President of the Irish Universities Association, the Chairman of Institutes of Technology Ireland and the President of the Dublin Institute of Technology asking them to give early and favourable consideration to the matter, in the context of a suitably devised bonus points system which will successfully encourage more students to study higher level maths.

My Department is addressing the issues highlighted in the Report through the Project Maths initiative, which is designed to encourage better understanding of Maths, to reinforce the practical relevance of maths to everyday life, and to ensure better continuity between primary and second level, and junior and senior cycle. Project Maths began in 24 second level schools in 2008, and will begin in all schools in 2010. The initiative is being supported by intensive investment in professional development for teachers. Some €5m is being invested in professional development for teachers this year, and a rolling programme of investment will continue in this area to at least 2013.

A Project Maths Implementation Support Group has been established as an industry/education partnership to examine and report to me on how best stakeholders from business, second level and higher education can work together to achieve the objectives of Project Maths. The Group is chaired by Mr Frank Turpin, former Education Manager in INTEL Ireland, and nominee of the Irish Business and Employer's Confederation on the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, and the group includes representation from the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs. The group is due to report to me at the end of May on:

awareness measures which promote positive attitudes to mathematics and encourage more students to consider careers in this area

how the partnership can add value to the teaching and learning approaches and support the curriculum in Project Maths

how best increased take-up of mathematics at higher level can be encouraged.

The Group's work includes examination of a range of reports relating to Mathematics including that of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs. It is fully accepted that Ireland must move beyond "average" performance in Mathematics if Ireland is to keep pace with the demands of the Smart Economy.

Deirdre Clune

Ceist:

19 Deputy Deirdre Clune asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills her views on the results of a survey undertaken by the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland on science in second level schools which indicates that some schools have dropped science subjects from their school timetable or amalgamated higher and ordinary level science classes; the steps she will take to address this problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18189/10]

Amharc ar fhreagra

I am aware of the recent ASTI report referred to by the Deputy which is based on responses from 334 teachers of Junior Certificate science. It should be noted that school changes in subject offer is a regular occurrence. The data for schools discontinuing a science subject in the 2007/08 school year — before the increase in the pupil teacher ratio — is largely the same as the numbers discontinuing science in 2009/10.

Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. In accordance with these rules each school management authority is required to organise its subject options within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.

In accordance with existing arrangements, where a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments within its approved allocation, my Department considers applications for additional short term support through curricular concessions. This concession is available as a short term support for teaching in specific curricular areas affected by circumstances which have not yet been possible to resolve through the normal planning and management processes.

The allocation processes also include appellate mechanisms under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. The Board of Management of a school can submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeal Board which was established specifically to adjudicate on appeals on staffing allocations in post-primary schools. This Board operates independently of my Department.

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. This is being achieved in two ways. Firstly, additional posts are being targeted at co-educational schools in single post-primary catchment areas to support wider subject choice. This approach recognises that such schools are under more pressure to provide a wider subject choice, including options in the physical sciences, than a single sex school.

Secondly, additional posts for the coming school year are being allocation to post-primary schools that decide to work together with other local post-primary schools to increase subject choice in a town or area. This is aimed at encouraging cooperation between schools and ensuring the best use of whatever resources are available given current constraints. Furthermore it can facilitate the introduction of a subject such as Physics or Chemistry in two or more schools through the recruitment of one teacher shared between them.

The issues around subject choice, including science, can also be considered further as part of the consultations with the education partners on the allocation of the remaining additional posts under the renewed Programme for Government.

My Department is committed to enhancing the teaching and learning of science in senior cycle, and increasing the proportion of students choosing the Physical Sciences. A comprehensive range of measures to achieve this objective are funded through the Discover Science and Engineering programme at both primary and second level. Revised curricula in science were implemented in 2003 in primary schools and in junior cycle for first examination in 2006. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has developed revised syllabuses for Leaving Certificate science, but is trialling assessment approaches in schools prior to submitting its advice to my Department.

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