Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 479: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the measures she proposes to adopt for the leaving certificate 2006 in order to have more male students achieve the qualifying mark for entry to primary teacher training; if, in view of the number of males achieving the required standard in higher level Irish, this will involve extra teaching on tuition in order to achieve her target of having more males enter primary teacher training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16048/06]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 481: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent of her Department's assessment of the reason so few male students achieve the required C standard in higher leaving certificate Irish in order to enter primary teacher training; the progress being achieved by her programme to alter this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16050/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 479 and 481 together.

The revised literature course for Leaving Certificate Irish which was introduced in September 2004 will be examined for the first time in June 2006. This has been widely welcomed as it allows literature to be taught using modern communicative approaches that appeal to young people and it affords a high level of choice to students and teachers. The course includes film, for the first time, as an option for students. Comprehensive guidelines to accompany the course have been issued to teachers and furthermore, a dedicated website offering resource materials for innovative ways to teach Leaving Certificate Irish is currently being developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) which will have a particular focus on the new poetry and the films on the revised course.

As the Deputy is aware, I have requested the NCCA to review the syllabuses for Leaving Certificate Irish as a matter of priority. The review will involve amending the syllabus content, embedding key skills and reviewing assessment methods. This process will focus on increasing students' competences in both oral and written Irish and on making learning the language more enjoyable for all students, male and female.

No specific research has been conducted into the reasons why fewer male students achieve grade C, or above, in Leaving Certificate Irish at higher level.

I believe that both curriculum and assessment, taken together, are powerful levers for improving students' interest in individual subjects and for raising their levels of achievement.