Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know the public announcement is not until 2 p.m. but I welcome the announcement of the major overhaul of the junior certificate examination. Without going into details, students will be assessed continuously and not by one exam. The measure will be good for the quality of teaching and learning in schools. Education is not about assessment and exams but the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom. Continuous assessment with standardised tests at the end of each year is a welcome development. It will still be a rigorous system. We need the quality of education to be maintained and the new measure will ensure that. This morning on "Morning Ireland", Dr. Emer Smyth from the Economic and Social Research Institute said that the proposed overhaul would lead to improved educational standards among students. I ask the Leader to request that the Minister for Education and Skills return to the House. He has attended a number of times but I would like him to return to speak about junior cycle reform and on what progress, if any, has been made following the report on patronage and pluralism in schools.