Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I share the Minister's view that nobody wants to see people labelled as failures but we must face the reality about the science subjects. The rate has been more or less consistent in recent years but the record is still bad. I am concerned also about the uptake in the subject when students progress to the leaving certificate programme.

The new junior certificate science syllabus is good and will, I hope, make the subject more interesting for students. We will be able to judge the success of the new syllabus following the junior certificate examinations in June 2006. I understand that the mistakes to which I referred are found in the guidebook given to teachers. The Department was informed of these mistakes some time ago but the mistakes have not been rectified, even though students will sit the examinations in June. These mistakes are becoming apparent in the teaching of practicals because they are present in the guidebook used by teachers. I do not know if this serious matter has been brought to the attention of the Minister.

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