Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the points made by Deputy Simon Harris. We must ask whether we should teach ICT as a specific course or assist teachers in improving teaching and learning across the curriculum through the use of ICT. There is a distinction to be made. It is a cliché but children are digital natives. There is a gap in some areas of the education system in terms of the dynamic through which kids learn in the classroom and how they embrace technology outside the classroom. My focus is on content knowledge around science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM. We must use ICT as a mechanism to deliver a greater conceptual understanding of STEM. That is the challenge for our times. Mr. James Whelton is someone who influences people and is a thought leader in respect of coding and teaching teachers to code. We will implement this in the junior cycle and we will see where we go from there. There is a mathematics pilot project in the west of Ireland, championed by the Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cannon. Through embracing courses and pilot projects, we will see how to translate them across the system to create a long-term beneficial impact.

Curriculum changes in 2003 in the science curriculum have had a major impact on outcomes in 2013 in respect of the Programme for International Student Assessment, PISA, results. It is too early to map Project Maths onto 2013 PISA results but the next set of PISA results will map the effect of Project Maths and will have a positive effect. I agree with the sentiments expressed by the Deputy in respect of Project Maths and that is why we have taken a partnership approach. The Deputy mentioned at the outset that industry players are informing us of the skills shortage in respect of their needs. We are trying to meet it and there is a challenge in the short term but we are also thinking in the long term. This is about sustainable jobs in the ICT sector in the medium to long term.

See this speech in context