Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
109. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on considerations regarding potential reforms to the Leaving Certificate, given the concerns raised by teachers at this year's annual teachers conferences. [16491/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSenior Cycle Redevelopment is an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of education that will significantly enrich the student experience. The redevelopment of Senior Cycle will maintain the high-quality education system for which Ireland is well known and reduce the focus on terminal written examinations.
Significant progress has been made on the Senior Cycle Redevelopment programme since my announcement in March 2022. The draft specifications for the first Tranche of subjects to be revised and introduced are moving to finalisation. Work on tranches 2 and 3 is already underway. The NCCA has recently published the schedule of revision for all Leaving Certificate subjects in annual tranches from 2025-2029.
Work has also advanced in regard to Transition Year, the updated Programme Statement having recently been submitted to me by the NCCA, and the development of Level 1 and Level 2 modules, for which the NCCA are currently reviewing the feedback from its recently concluded public consultation period.
This progress means we are now delivering on the ambition of a more inclusive Senior Cycle that recognises the many talents of our students and ensures they have the kind of 21st Century education needed to bring those talents to bear as they make their way in the world of work and beyond.
I recognise the commitment of teachers and school leaders to make sure we are providing young people with the very best and inclusive educational opportunities that they deserve. As a teacher myself, and Minister for Education, I know I feel the same.
I attended all of the teacher Union Conferences recently and had the opportunity to hear at first hand from delegates as well as address them. Principally, I recognise how important having the appropriate level of detail in a subject specification is for teachers. That is why I have asked the NCCA, in developing all new and revised subjects, to ensure that curricula contain a higher level of detail than has sometimes been the case in the past. The NCCA has also published a detailed research paper on the technical form of curriculum specifications which has informed this work.
The implementation of Additional Assessment Components beyond a written examination to all subjects as they are revised builds on the current situation that applies in the majority of subjects many of which are weighted at or in some cases above 40%. The revised assessment arrangements will ensure teaching and learning are not focused on a narrow set of competencies associated with written examinations. It also ensures students are rewarded for developing and demonstrating different skills, whilst also addressing the stress that many students experience arising from terminal examinations.
Comprehensive teacher professional learning supports will be also provided by Oide, the integrated professional support service, during the next school year ahead of the new specifications involved in the first Tranche being introduced. The SEC is also committed to providing sample assessment materials to support the preparation of teachers. The practical arrangements stemming from the introduction of Additional Assessment Components will be determined by the SEC and communicated to schools and students in due course.
My officials and I will continue to engage with schools, teachers, and the education partners in the implementation of a redeveloped Senior Cycle so that the full benefits of redevelopment can be seen. In that regard, I look forward to continued engagement with teachers and their representatives.
