Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On the question of career progression, we all frequently encounter parents and students who say they do not know what to do or what course to go for, etc. I often find myself saying one thing to remember is that people should be less worried about getting it right or wrong from the get-go at third level. People are much more mobile between courses, and between work and courses, throughout their careers and so on. Nonetheless, a thought occurs to me. What is the role and value of various kinds of aptitude testing throughout the secondary schooling period? Does it go on much? Is there value in it? Is it seen as predictive? We need hardly worry there will be a danger of funnelling students too narrowly and too soon because there is a broad and increasing breadth to the curriculum. Is work being done in the area of techniques that will assist students to think about where their aptitudes lie? It is not just a question of the subjects they are getting good marks in because that can be deceiving at a certain point.