Dáil debates

Tuesday, 11 October 2022

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions

School Curriculum

10:35 pm

Photo of Neale RichmondNeale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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57. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the leaving certificate reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49684/22]

Photo of Joe CareyJoe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I seek an update on plans announced at the end of March for a reimagined senior cycle

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined senior cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their senior cycle experience. There are three clear objective. It will empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century; enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system; and embed well-being and reduce student stress levels.

Considerable work has been ongoing regarding senior cycle redevelopment in the Department, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA and the SEC, in particular since the March announcement. Officials in the Department have engaged with key stakeholders on senior cycle redevelopment including providing a number of online information sessions to parents. Subject background papers have been prepared for the two new subjects of drama, film and theatre studies and climate action and sustainable development; as well as for business. The NCCA has a public consultation under way in respect of those subjects which closes at the end of October. The subject development groups within the NCCA, through which the new and revised curriculums will be developed, have been convened and the first meetings have been held. I have asked the SEC to undertake an evaluation of the 2022 experience of holding oral and music practical examinations at Easter so as to inform our approach in subsequent years. The NCCA and the SEC are in the process of commissioning research in relation to the weighting, composition and moderation of teacher-based assessment components.

Our next immediate steps include preparing to launch the process through which schools will be invited to become network schools. Those schools will support the introduction of the new and revised subjects in fifth year in September 2024. The planning necessary to hold paper 1 in Irish and English at the end of the fifth year from summer 2023 has also commenced. In addition, from the start of the current school year students pursuing the leaving certificate applied, LCA programme have been able to access maths from the established programme and those pursuing the leaving certificate vocational programme, LCVP, programme are no longer required to satisfy subject specific criteria to be eligible for the programme. These are the first steps that will ultimately lead to a more integrated leaving certificate available to all students.

Work has also commenced within the NCCA’s structures in regard to the production of a revised transition year programme statement and the development of L1 and L2 learning programmes to provide for continuity from equivalent level programmes at junior cycle level.

Photo of Joe CareyJoe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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The Minister has given a broad outline of what the new senior cycle will look like but the detail is light. What subjects will be available? What will the curriculum consist of? What form will the exams take? What form will the continuous assessment take? There is little time available to give the answers to those questions. If we learned anything from the pandemic, it was that the leaving certificate needs to be reformed in its entirety.

Sitting that exam is not the be-all and end-all for all students. The reform of senior cycle should reflect that. We clearly need to reflect on this and introduce those changes. Will the Minister give an indication of what subjects will be available and what the curriculum will consist of? What form will the exams take and what form will the continuous assessment take?

10:45 pm

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I have been very clear about the need for the reform of senior cycle and I have outlined the aspects on which we have already moved. We have already made considerable changes on foot of the announcements for senior cycle. For example, the students availing of the LCA programme may now avail of maths from the established programme. There is a crossover between the different programmes available at leaving certificate. Equally, students who wish to study the LCV programme are no longer prohibited on the basis of the subjects they choose; it is open to everyone.

We have also said that there will be a revised transition year programme. We are currently developing a structure where the L1 and L2 programmes, which are available to children with special educational needs, will be also available at senior cycle. We have been very clear that there will be 40% teacher-based assessment. We have been also very clear that all this will be worked through in what we are calling our network schools so that the students and teachers are co-authors of the programme. We have been also very clear that students will not need to experience any single day in June where all their marks are dependent on their performance on that day. We have also made clear that as part of the syllabus, there will be various methods of adjudicating students' abilities, whether it is oral presentations-----

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Minister will get a chance to come back.

Photo of Joe CareyJoe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I still believe there is a need for more clarity for students, parents and teachers. I acknowledge that the Minister's press statement in March outlined her aspirations and she has outlined them again. There is need for clarity for students. In recent months junior cert students have experienced uncertainty in waiting for their results. We certainly do not want our older students to be in that position also. I appeal to the Minister to do her utmost to engage with students and teachers to plan out what she has in mind for the senior cycle. That would be very welcome. I encourage her to be more forthcoming and to bring more clarity to the situation for students and teachers.

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is misconstruing what I said to him. I said there is absolute clarity on the broad thrust of what is to be achieved at senior cycle. I have been very clear about the new types of subjects that will be available. Two specific new subjects will be available: drama, film and theatre studies; and climate action and sustainable development. The work on that has already begun. The Deputy spoke about clarity for students and teachers. I have been also very clear that the entire process, particularly as it relates to assessment etc., will be worked through our network schools. That will involve teachers and students. There will be total engagement there. It will be a co-authoring of the process. We will shortly be commencing opportunities for schools to join that network schools programme. We have already begun the process of senior cycle reform. This year for the first time, students will be allowed to move between the leaving certificate established and leaving certificate applied. That reflects one of the broadest ambitions in ensuring there is a crossover. Another measure from senior cycle reform in our schools this year is ensuring that the LCV programme is open to all students. The process has begun and there will be ongoing consultation with students and staff.