Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I regret that the teachers intend to hold a strike. The only ones who suffer from a strike in circumstances like this are the pupils and this is about them.

As Deputy Martin will be well aware, this involves provision of the most comprehensive and best-rounded education that young people can have before they enter a competitive and evolving work environment in a few short years and that is why it has been necessary to look at the concept of the junior certificate - what it stands for, how it is structured, what it means and what progress it can give to young people in secondary school. Deputy Martin's party proposed to abolish the junior certificate at one stage.

For over 30 years, there has been agreement on the need to reform the first three years of second level education. That was first proposed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in 1999. Undoubtedly, the current junior certificate has its strengths but it cannot allow for assessment of skills, such as teamwork, communications or creativity, which are all important in today's world. These are aspects of a modern society and they are crucial skills that young people need to have. I am sure everybody here agrees that we want the best for our young people.

The new junior certificate will allow students to study short courses in a range of areas that are relevant to their future. That is an issue about devolution of responsibility to schools which has generally been accepted. Some of these short courses will include matters such as Chinese language and culture and coding, which skills and knowledge will be of increasing importance in the future. That is obviously something being requested by schools themselves.

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