Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 May 2018
95. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the new subjects or subject areas being considered by his Department or the NCCA, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, as potential subjects for State examination at post-primary level; and the timeframe planned for the introduction of such new examination subjects. [19185/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraJunior Cycle
Implementation of the new framework is proceeding. Implementation commenced in September 2014 with the introduction of English, for first year students. Subjects are being introduced on a phased basis up to 2019 and are being supported by a comprehensive CPD programme for teachers.
The new Junior Cycle gives schools greater flexibility to design programmes that are suited to the needs of their Junior Cycle students and to the particular context of the school.
In the new Junior Cycle there will be two qualifications. One, a replacement for the current Junior Certificate, will be aligned to Level 3 of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The other, designed for students with particular special educational needs who currently can't access the Junior Certificate, will be aligned to Level 2 of the NFQ.
The Level 2 Learning Programmes (L2LPs) and qualification are targeted at a very specific group of students who have general learning disabilities in the higher functioning moderate and low functioning mild categories.
New subject specifications have already been introduced in English, Science, Business Studies, Irish, Modern Languages and Art, Craft and Design at Junior Cycle, with new specifications in Mathematics, Home Economics, History, Music and Geography to be introduced in September 2018.
Senior Cycle:
Mandarin, Polish, Lithuanian and Portuguese
‘Languages Connect – Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017-2026’ was published late last year. A key part of this strategy is not only increasing the numbers of children taking up a foreign language, but also diversifying the range of languages available to schools. This will be achieved through the development and implementation of a curricular specification for new learners of Mandarin Chinese for Leaving Certificate and curricular specifications for heritage speakers for Polish, Lithuanian and Portuguese. The Strategy commits to the introduction of these specifications from September 2020.
Leaving Certificate Computer Science
The specification for the new Leaving Certificate Computer Science (LCCS) subject was approved by the Council of the NCCA and the Minister in December 2017. Following a public call to schools, the Steering Group established to oversee implementation of LCCS selected and approved 40 schools that will introduce the subject in September 2018 as part of the phase 1 roll-out. The first examination of the LCCS will take place in June 2020. Phase 2 will see the subject being available as an option to all schools from September 2020.
Leaving Certificate Physical Education
The specification for a new examinable Leaving Certificate Physical Education was approved by the Minister last year, following development by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). The introduction of Physical Education as a Leaving Certificate subject is a key action under the Department’s Action Plan for Education and is part of the Government’s overall emphasis on encouraging physical activity and healthy lifestyles among young people in Ireland. The Specification will be introduced on a phased basis to 64 schools from September 2018 with students sitting Leaving Certificate examinations for LCPE in June 2020. It will then be made available to all schools who wish to introduce it from September 2020.
Politics and Society
A new specification for Leaving Certificate Politics and Society was introduced in September 2016 to a selected Phase 1 cohort of 41 schools who were selected from almost 120, following an open invitation to introduce this as an optional Leaving Certificate subject. The first examination in Leaving Certificate Politics and Society will take place in June 2018. The introduction of the specification was part of the Department of Education and Skills commemoration of 1916 and its commitment to education for sustainable development. Phase 2 (availability to all interested schools) has commenced with all schools having been asked to express their interest in providing Politics and Society as an option for their students from September 2018.
