Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
478. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has examined the latest international survey by the OECD entitled Education at a Glance, which highlights the fact that the proportion of time spent on teaching maths and science here is below the EU average; the action he will take to bring teaching practices here more in line with the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39362/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, Education at a Glance uses 2010 data for this part of the report. In mid-2011, I launched the National Strategy to improve Literacy and Numeracy among children and young people 2011 to 2020. One of the early actions implemented under the Strategy was to ask all primary schools to increase the time spent on mathematics by 70 minutes per week from January 2012. At post-primary, in September 2011, post primary schools were asked to make every effort to ensure that students have access to a mathematics lesson every day, particularly in junior cycle, from the earliest possible date; that mathematics be strengthened in Transition Year, where available; and that every effort should be made, insofar as is possible, to deploy teachers who hold a qualification in mathematics to mathematics teaching.
In relation to science, the primary curriculum emphasises that all aspects of the child's development are interrelated and the developmental process is interactive and complex. Science is addressed not just through science but also through other curricular-related areas, for example, geography and mathematics. At post-primary level, I am currently considering detailed implementation arrangements for a revised Junior Cycle. Science will continue to play an important role in the new Junior Cycle.
