Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she is considering introducing ECDL or a comparable information and communications technology course as a second level subject. [19768/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A number of schools currently facilitate students in completing ECDL, particularly in transition year. However, I have no plans to introduce information and communications technology, ICT, as a discrete examination subject for second level students.

Recent thinking on ICT in schools is that the best way to learn ICT skills is to apply them in meaningful context. Based on this, the focus in Ireland is on developing and promoting the use of ICT as a tool for learning across the curriculum. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, is currently developing a framework for ICT in curriculum and assessment. This will outline the kinds of ICT learning experiences that students should have during key phases of their schooling and will provide guidance on how these can be provided by integrating ICT across the curriculum. This is in line with current international practice.