Languages Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 February 2012

Thursday, 23 February 2012

Ceisteanna (52)

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

51 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the reasons cited in the decision to end the modern languages in primary schools initiative, including recommendations from a National Council for Curriculum and Assessment feasibility report 2008, and information to the effect that it has not been possible for schools to join the MLPSI in recent years, and following the presentation by the modern languages delegation to the Oireachtas joint committee on 1 February 2012 and its detailed written submission, which clarifies that the NCCA report did not recommend an ending of the initiative, if he will review the decision to end the MLPSI in light of these clarifications. [10023/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative has been a pilot scheme involving approximately 550 schools that has operated since 1998. The decision to end the scheme took account of a 2008 Report by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). The report identified serious issues with curricular overload at primary level.

The NCCA's advice recommended for the present modern languages should not be part of the Primary School Curriculum as an additional and separate subject. The advice in relation to curriculum overload predated the wake up call on literacy and numeracy triggered by the PISA results. I am taking that advice on board and with particular regard to the demands on time in school that will result from a heightened focus on literacy and numeracy.

The primary curriculum is currently being reviewed by the NCCA in the context of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy. The €2.5million in savings from this measure will go towards the cost of implementing the new National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy. The 17% of primary schools at present in the Initiative, who have had even more time demands than others in a crowded curricular space, should as a result be better placed to deliver under the strategy.

Given the priority of literacy and numeracy I have acted on the 2008 advice about overload and could not justify either the continuation of the initiative in the existing schools or its expansion to all schools even if funding was not an issue.