Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

With the greatest of respect, ISTA did more than cast its eye over the draft proposals. It has produced a 212-page document that is incredibly detailed in places. The part I referred to is only to do with the actual physics content. The Minister mentioned the components aspect. Some numbers that caught my attention are that the research investigations will account for 40% of marks in fifth year, with 20 hours to be done in a laboratory and the entire course to be delivered over 180 hours. On the subject of laboratories, it is not just teachers or this particular organisation expressing concerns. Parents have referenced this point as well. We are running a very unclear line in terms of resources and the fair allocation of those resources to schools. This will put the students who are most disadvantaged at a further disadvantage. If the laboratory in a DEIS school or any other school is not of the same standard as the laboratories in other schools in the community or the same area, the pupils in that school will, simply due to finances, not be able to achieve the same outcomes as students in the schools that are better resourced.

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