Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Let us be clear about this issue. Every organisation across the education spectrum welcomed the proposed changes in the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA. The objection raised by teachers was not to the content of the new curriculum but to the decision by me to stand down a State examination, the junior certificate examination, because I no longer considered it relevant. I made this decision because in the past we had been unable to get curriculum reforms into the classroom owing to opposition from various sectors. Both teacher unions stated specifically, with good reason and with an historical background to explain their position, that teachers would not examine their pupils on behalf of the State for a State examination. I listened carefully to their views and pondered the issue for some time. Given that Finland, Scotland and New Zealand do not have high stakes state examinations other than at the end of the six-year, second level period, I asked what purpose the junior certificate State examination was serving in this day and age. Notwithstanding that none of us wants our children to leave school at the age of 15 years, they continue to sit a State examination at that age.

I listened to the views of the two teacher unions, neither of which had an argument with the curriculum content. They argued that teachers should not examine their own pupils in the new course curriculum to which we provided a straightforward reflected response in deciding there would no longer be a State examination in the junior cycle. The only change is that teachers would be asked to do in third year what they currently do in second and fifth year of the secondary school system. The teaching unions were not consulted in advance of the announcement because they had made clear that they were not prepared to do as I have described. However, in respect of everything else they were fully engaged with the process and their representatives continue to meet my officials. I met Mr. Gerry Breslin at a function and have since received a request for a formal meeting. A preliminary meeting with the two second level teacher unions will take place soon and I expect and intend to meet them again subsequently.

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