Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
477. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has given any consideration to concerns raised by certain professors that Project Maths is damaging not only to mathematics but to engineering, technology and the sciences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39361/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the National Council for Curriculum to advise on this matter and I expect a detailed response very shortly.
In addition, formal in-depth research on the impact of Project Maths is ongoing. Following a tendering process, the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) was awarded a contract to conduct research into the impact of Project Maths on student motivation, learning and achievement in the initial 24 schools who were engaged in the project since September 2008 and all the other post-primary schools where syllabus change commenced in September 2010.
The student-focused research design has two components:
Part One focuses on testing students' mathematical performance in areas significant to Project Maths, and on exploring their attitudes towards mathematics.
Part Two uses analysis of students' work and detailed case studies to develop a data-rich picture of mathematics teaching and learning.
In relation to Part Two, the case study sample schools have been selected and the research is scheduled to begin in these schools shortly.
