Dr. Martin Gormley:

The links between primary and post-primary schools are very important. The ETB has responsibility for the community national schools and it needs to start there. Another important area is FET, for which ETBs have responsibility. We are exploring the option of working with the third level sector on degrees whereby the first part of a degree could be achieved through the local education and training board after which people would finish them off at a technological university.

Overall, schools efforts in the context of embedding the objectives and high-level outcomes outlined in the STEM education policy are well under way. The shared responsibility approach in this policy has facilitated increased awareness, participation and learning in STEM education at primary and post-primary level. We look forward to upcoming curriculum redevelopments. It is an opportunity that we must not miss.