Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1484: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the new materials in terms of textbooks and so on which will be provided for use by teachers and students in the context of the project maths initiative which he recently announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1135/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1486: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount project maths as an initiative will cost his Department over the next three years; the amount set aside for the purposes of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1137/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1487: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the way it will be possible to introduce the new teaching methodologies in the context of project maths, when only 24 of the total number of post-primary schools here will have access to this piloted project in phase one; the way this can be tested when the course itself can not be changed for at least three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1138/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1484, 1486 and 1487 together.

The Project Maths initiative is designed to encourage better understanding of Maths, to reinforce the practical relevance of maths to everyday life, and to ensure better continuity between primary and second level, and junior and senior cycle. The initiative started in 2008 and is being piloted in 24 schools. The curriculum changes will be phased in over three years and mainstreaming will begin in 2010, prefaced by a national programme of professional development for teachers beginning in 2009. Starting in the Project schools allows the opportunity to trial the changes and to develop lesson plans and exemplars for teachers at the same time. It will help to ensure that the optimum level of resources are available in advance, when the changes are introduced in the mainstream system, beginning in September 2010. It will enable the student experience, which is central to effective learning, to feed into the final syllabus development so that we can ensure the best possible approach to ensuring relevance and quality in the new reforms.

Students in the 24 schools involved in the initial implementation from September 2008 are experiencing mathematics in a new way. Teachers are being provided with classroom materials to enable them to adopt the new approaches and will be supported professionally in embracing change. These materials and supports will include lesson plans, with teacher guides and student worksheets, online exemplars and a range of assessment materials.

The NCCA website www.ncca.ie. sets out the draft syllabus for Strands 1 and 2 at junior and senior cycle, a draft common Mathematics course for the first year in junior cycle, and a Geometry course. The website www.ProjectMaths.ie sets out additional supports in the form of teaching and learning plans, a forum for teachers, and additional resources. These resources will expand over time. My Department does not generally produce textbooks for schools. However, the NCCA has been in touch with the educational publishers association about the changes to Mathematics.

Project Maths will be supported by intensive investment in professional development for teachers. A Maths Support Team has been appointed and is currently supporting the project schools, as well as preparing for mainstream in-service development which will start in September 2009, followed by mainstream implementation starting in Sept 2010. Some €3m has been provided for the programme in 2009.

Project Maths is being implemented on a phased basis covering the following five strands of mathematics:

Phase 1 Strand 1 statistics and probability; Strand 2 geometry and trigonometry

Phase 2 Strand 3 number; Strand 4 algebra

Phase 3 functions

Phase 3 will have begun in all schools in 2012, and will be fully implemented in all class groups by 2015.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1485: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirm that the 5,900 maths teachers here will undergo in-service training in each of the three strands to be introduced under the project maths initiative and that this in-service training will take place during school time; the cost to his Department of such in-service training; the person who will pay for this, if it will be the school or his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1136/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Project Maths is a new ground-breaking curriculum development initiative in post-primary Mathematics, which is being led by the NCCA in conjunction with my Department and the SEC. The project, which is scheduled to run from 2008 to at least 2013, will see the incremental development of revised syllabuses in Junior and Leaving Certificate Mathematics alongside a significant programme of teacher professional development.

In both junior cycle and senior cycle mathematics syllabuses, five strands of mathematics have been identified: Statistics and Probability, Geometry and Trigonometry, Number, Algebra and Functions. Syllabus revisions will be undertaken in each strand and the changes will be introduced on a phased basis. Initially the strands are being introduced in a small group of 24 pilot schools. Teachers in the pilot schools will attend three days of Project Maths in-service/workshops in the current school year.

There are plans to begin the mainstream roll-out of in-service on Strands to all maths teachers from September 2009 with training taking place in school time and funded by my Department. The implementation of the Strands will take place in the year after in-service has been delivered. The estimated cost to my Department of the project in 2009 is in the region of €3m.