Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 487: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to include a module on trade unions within the civic, social and political education curriculum at secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38182/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently no plans to include a specific module on trades unions in the junior certificate civic, social and political education, CSPE, syllabus. This is because the potential already exists for teachers to incorporate teaching about trades unions into the course of study they undertake with students. The CSPE syllabus is a concept-based syllabus with highly flexible units of study. The concepts for study include those of democracy, rights and responsibilities, human dignity and interdependence. The units of study include in unit 1, the individual and citizenship; in unit 2, the community; and unit 3, the State — Ireland. Both these concepts and units of study allow the teacher to take a thematic approach towards teaching and learning in these areas. The theme can involve trades unions, community development, Government, etc. The course was designed in this way to avoid a topic-led approach dominating the teaching of the subject, which was a criticism often levelled at civics as a subject in the past.

The role of trade unions and industrial relations issues, together with the rights and responsibilities of workers is featured specifically in the vocational preparation and guidance aspects of the leaving certificate applied programme. The role of trade unions, industrial relations, handling conflict and human resources issues ar also features of the business syllabus at senior cycle. In addition, a resource pack for schools entitled SWAY — Skills Work and Youth — has been developed by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in collaboration with the education sector, FÁS, IBEC and trade unions from abroad for use in the transition year, leaving certificate applied, leaving certificate vocational programme and guidance programmes in schools. The pack aims to promote an awareness among students of what is expected in the workplace, the need for lifelong learning in the context of rapidly changing needs, the role of trade unions in a national and European context, and the importance of recognised qualifications to a successful career.