Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is a short time in which to speak. The issue we are debating is the question of reform of the junior cycle. It is worth pointing out that this is not a new subject that has only been debated in recent times. I have counted nine consecutive Ministers with responsibility for education, including the current Minister, who have discussed this subject at various times during their tenure. I stopped counting after that. This covered the period when we were told that we were the richest little country in the world. Even during that period discussions were under way on this subject and those discussions included the trade unions at the time.

This system has existed for over 20 years. As legislators and educators we know that no system is perfect. As society and the world changes, our education systems should come up for scrutiny.

I always take this back to the basic point about education. In society, particularly Irish society, the greatest level of discrimination against the poorest takes place in education. People refer to the junior cycle and the leaving certificate as a good thing, etc. However, if it is such a great system and not to be tampered with or discussed, why is it that in recent years such a small proportion of working class children get past the door of a university? If it is so good, why has it not been good to them? The system should be up for scrutiny, as should all things in education.

As a former member of the school board in Old Bawn Community School, Tallaght, I take a different view to some people. Let us consider the stress that this system loads on children aged only 14 and a half or 15 years. Such pressures should not be put on any children. Any child can continue to learn without such pressure. I have held this view for 20 years. It should be discontinued and replaced with a different system.

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