Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 January 2013
86. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the concept of business ideas generating workshops could be developed in secondary schools in tandem with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, in order to promote creativity and entrepreneurship for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3630/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently a significant number of initiatives which support enterprise in schools including one where there is co-operation with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through the County Enterprise Boards.
In senior cycle students taking the Transition Year option, the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and the Leaving Certificate Applied are provided with specific opportunities to acquire enterprise skills. These programmes place a strong focus on active learning, community-based approaches, personal development and teamwork. Students also engage in work experience. In addition, enterprise is part of the Business syllabus in second level schools.
The Sean Lemass Award for Student Enterprise is an annual award which is presented to the top 3 winners from both the Transition Year Mini-company Get up and Go Competition and the County/City Enterprise Board Student Enterprise Competition. In 2012 approximately 5,620 Transition Year students participated in the 'Get up and Go' mini-company Transition Year competition, an additional 4,322 students participated in an Enterprise module/mini-company. Over 15,500 students participated in the Student Enterprise Awards with the majority of the students from Transition Year. This award is open to participants in both of the above initiatives.
The new Framework for Junior Cycle which will be introduced to schools on a phased basis from 2014 also provides opportunities to foster enterprise in schools underpinned by 24 statements of learning. These focus on what students should know, understand, value and be able to do at the end of junior cycle, having fully engaged with and participated in the junior cycle programme of their school.
A number of statements of learning are relevant to enterprise, in particular, the one which provides that students should be able to take initiative, be innovative and develop entrepreneurial skills. All schools will have to ensure that their Junior Cycle programme covers all 24 statements of learning. Under the new programme, schools will be able to develop short courses for Junior Cycle as will other bodies. Schools can choose to offer those short courses which they believe will best meet the needs of their students. It will be open to local businesses to work on the development of short courses with schools in line with the guidelines and templates for short courses developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, if they so wish.
