Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 146: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to introduce a single science subject for the leaving certificate to encourage more students to follow the science route at third level. [32729/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There are five leaving certificate science subjects, each of which is offered at higher and ordinary levels. This range of subjects is necessary to ensure that courses are available in the different branches of science to match the varying needs, interests, ability levels and career plans of senior cycle students. The availability of these subjects also affords schools a degree of flexibility that is important when planning to meet the needs of their students.

Significant progress is being made in regard to curricular reform and in-service support for science at both primary and post-primary levels. Science was introduced as a key component in the revised primary school curriculum in 1999 and it has been implemented in all schools since September 2003. A revised junior certificate syllabus was introduced in September 2003 for first examination in June 2006. I believe that this syllabus with its hands-on investigative approach and its new emphasis on scientific process will be particularly instrumental in encouraging more pupils to continue science in senior cycle, especially as the completion of 30 mandatory experiments will now be a requirement for all students.

For the leaving certificate, revised syllabi have already been fully implemented in biology, physics and chemistry. Each of these curricular changes is being or has been supported by national in-service programmes for teachers. To complete the cycle of revision, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is working on the development of a new leaving certificate physical sciences syllabus to replace the current physics and chemistry combined syllabus and a revision of agricultural science is very well advanced. All of these developments and supports have been designed and implemented to encourage students' interest in science from an early age and to increase uptake of science-related courses at third level.

My Department is fully committed to strengthening the quality of science teaching and learning, promoting increased scientific literacy and encouraging more students to choose science subjects at senior cycle and at third level. Progress in these areas is a vitally important part of our national strategy to support competitiveness and employment. My Department's work in supporting and promoting science work will continue to be progressed and enhanced, as resources permit, in collaboration and consultation with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Forfás and industry.