Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this question. Reform of the leaving certificate senior cycle is the right thing to do. This is something that will benefit students. Nobody I have spoken to, including those who have concerns or who requested that this be delayed, has said we should not progress this, because everybody acknowledges it is the right thing to do. That is why I am committed to ensuring this is delivered and that we start this process next September. There is considerable momentum in the programme of work that is under way, which is primarily focused on preparing for the upcoming school year. When we look at what is happening, thousands of the 73,000 students who will be entering fifth year in September have already made their subject decisions. They have already based them on the fact there will be a new curriculum.

The leaving cert has served students well but this is about making sure we support students and reduce the amount of pressure they are under. Currently, the focus is on one exam at the end that can often go wrong for students. We need to take away that significant pressure and make sure there is an additional focus on critical and creative thinking and other types of skills. Leaving cert reform is central to how we do this.

In terms of what we have done and what I am doing, I am working with schools, teachers and students. The specifications or curriculum for the nine new and revised subjects in tranche 1 were published in September 2024. Their introduction to schools is being supported by a comprehensive package of support. Training has already been taken up by 26,000 teachers. A total of €12 million in funding has been provided to schools to support the introduction of new science subjects. I hope to be able to support them even further. Tomorrow, the State Examinations Commission will publish sample examination papers for each of the new tranche 1 subjects. There are 72 in total, two for each subject at higher and ordinary level. Following the publication, a series of webinars will take place for teachers, focused on these papers. Sample additional assessment component briefs will be provided by the State Examinations Commission at the start of the next school year.

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