Ms Fidelma Joyce:

On the idea of having a civics or citizenship subject in the curriculum, it has been a compulsory part of the curriculum since 1966, for the reason that every young person should have a basic knowledge of how he or she should be active in society. The current CSPE curriculum is a much more evolved curriculum. It deals with a lot of contemporary and relevant issues. There are issues about its implementation and the Irish Human Rights Commission was the first to raise those concerns. However, it is a compulsory subject. We have advocated for a deepening of human rights in the curriculum, to regard CSPE as a cornerstone and to incorporate human rights into any review of other subjects. For example, history is a very clear example of a subject which can incorporate human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 is a very important document in the historical context. I refer to the importance of geography and climate change and humanity. There is a lot of scope to introduce and embed human rights in other subjects. In our view every young person should have the opportunity, through CSPE, to actually get a basic grounding in human rights and equality and to develop the skills to be active citizens. The way CSPE is framed with the action project gives students a lot of practical support. We support any reforms in the curriculum that introduce these kind of active assessments which are not based on rote learning. We know that more can be done. It is unclear how a subject which has been compulsory since 1966 and which is subject to a State examination since the late 1990s is now being downgraded to a short course while, at the same time, it is planned to introduce a very exciting subject in the senior cycle called politics and society. In our view, CSPE should be available for every young person as a basis and a foundation and then they may progress to choose politics and society. CSPE is a very strong promotion of study of the humanities.