Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have been trying to draw a string out on the reform of teaching of some of the subjects with some of the witnesses who have come before the committee over the past while. Some people will agree with Mr. Ahern and more will not but I am a big believer in continuous assessment. I would like it to have been in place when I did my leaving certificate many years ago. Mr. Ahern was right when he spoke about home economics being available in all schools and not just schools where females attend and also about how woodwork and metalwork should be available to females as well. In bygone days, they were only available in boys schools. I totally agree with him on that.

I ask Mr. Ahern to comment on continuous assessment. What do his peers think? I presume he spoke to his fellow students and peers before today's meeting about their thoughts and feelings on the leaving certificate. He is now in the years where he will prepare for the leaving certificate. It is with trepidation or nervousness that he approaches it because, as Mr. Sharpe said, it is seen as the be-all and end-all, which is not the case. There are other ways and means of achieving what one wants in life and there are a huge number of opportunities in the educational field.

Maybe Mr. Ahern will flesh out the continuous assessment piece. Does he think many males would take up home economics if it were available in all schools and, vice versa, if metalwork and woodwork were available in girls' schools, would there be an uptake in those subjects?