Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House. I welcome the broad thrust of this document. Based on my experience at school level and third level from being a teacher and educator, it is hard to believe this will happen but it is possible with the right will and determination. I feel confident it is part of the ethos of the Minister to make sure change will take place.

Creativity and innovation are critical. Our new President-elect, Michael D. Higgins, is the hallmark for creativity and it is his watchword. If ever we needed it to be released in our people it is now but it must start in the education system. The Minister is correct; nothing changes unless the exam does.

I have a number of very quick questions. I am concerned about level II and level III. I understand level III is broadly the same as the current junior certificate programme, which is fine. I understand level II is for special needs children. I have worked extensively with thousands of children in this country at second level on a private basis for which I was paid.

One group is missing. Special needs children probably comprise 5% to 10% of the population at most. The current curriculum probably suits about 70% of children. Therefore, about 20% of children are in between special needs children and children whom the current curriculum suits. Such children are streetwise and bright but not motivated or supported by family. The Minister knows who they are; they are the children who drop out early from school.

They are not stupid but they lost interest in learning a long time ago. There is a mechanism in the new system to suit such children, in terms of the combination of short and long courses, but study time during the day where children are shown how to study must be built in. One short course available should be learning how to learn. Homework support is also important because such children are not getting it at home. Let us not pretend we can change all homes because we cannot. While the proposal is for eight subjects in total, for that middle group there may be a requirement for a combination of perhaps five or six subjects. We must let students choose those subjects, but with in-school study and home support.

The next question we must consider is who will have the freedom to design the short courses. Will it be schools, outside providers or, in some cases, very bright students? I am concerned about the date of commencement of the new curriculum in that I hoped it would be sooner. For a child entering junior certificate year in 2014, for instance, will he or she have the option to avail of the new system or will it not be introduced until 2017?

Will the Minister consider introducing an intranet which would allow for online communication between schools and homes, whereby parents can access homework assignments, teachers' notes and other learning resources? That facility is available in various countries internationally and is working well. I hope there is a buy-in from all teachers. I urge caution in regard to the reduction of 2,000 in teacher numbers, 1,000 of which will be at second level. There could be a tipping point where we go too far. I look forward to the Minister's comments on these points.