Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in the introduction of standardised testing at primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40244/06]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the years at which standardised testing will be introduced during the primary level cycle; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40245/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 163 together.

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.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has recommended to me 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.

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. The guidelines will also 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. These will be available to schools in 2007.

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 selection of schools in the current school year and available to all schools next year.

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.