Written answers

Thursday, 6 July 2006

Department of Education and Science

School Curriculum

6:00 pm

Photo of Olwyn EnrightOlwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 641: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when standardised testing will be introduced at primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27253/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, in its advice submitted to me in April 2005, recommends that the practice of standardised testing which is currently well established in primary schools should be built upon and that all pupils should be tested in literacy and numeracy at the end of first or beginning of second class and at the end of fourth or beginning of fifth class.

I fully agree with the NCCA's advice since I believe that standardised testing, carried out on a systematic basis, has great potential to enhance the quality of teaching and learning for our students at classroom level, and to provide valuable information for parents about their children's learning. However, to reap the full benefits of standardised testing, it is essential that a range of supports are put in place for teachers and parents in advance of introducing a requirement on schools to conduct tests.

In that context, the NCCA is preparing guidelines which will assist schools in developing and implementing a policy on assessment practice in classrooms and on reporting to parents. These will be available during the 2006/7 school year.

The NCCA is also developing guidelines in specific subjects which will provide teachers with information on what to assess in individual subjects of the Primary School Curriculum and how to use assessment information to plan for children's future learning in that subject.

A national report card for recording and reporting data on pupils' attainment to parents is also being developed by the NCCA. This will be piloted in a number of schools in 2006/7 and available to all schools in the following year. Significant funding to support the initiative has been provided for in the 2006 Estimates.

My Department is making ongoing progress in exploring potential implementation models, including dates, for the introduction of the requirement in schools. Another key consideration is how the in-service needs of teachers with regard to standardised testing can best be met. My intention is that we will proceed carefully but as quickly as possible to ensure that the recommendations proposed by the NCCA are implemented in a way that has positive benefits for children, parents, teachers and the system as a whole.

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