Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 396: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he has satisfied himself that the one day of in-service training proposed for the new second level maths curriculum is sufficient; his views on a phased introduction of the programme starting with the junior cycle instead of all in one go; his further views on whether sufficient preparatory texts and documentation has been provided to commence the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14696/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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A revised second-level mathematics curriculum is being introduced on a phased basis. This developmental initiative, Project Maths, is being directed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, in collaboration with the Department of Education and Science and the State Examinations Commission. Five revised syllabus 'strands' will be introduced over a three-year period, and this began in a small number of schools in September 2008, where Strand 1 (statistics and probability) and Strand 2 (geometry and trigonometry) have been introduced. To inform the curriculum development process, the 24 schools initially involved in introducing the revised strands will provide feedback on their experiences so that any refinements identified as necessary can be incorporated before the changed syllabus strands are introduced in all other schools.

The phased changes in Project Maths are being introduced simultaneously at first year and fifth year in post-primary schools. The changed teaching and learning approaches under Project Maths give greater emphasis to student understanding of the underlying concepts and processes involved in mathematics and the application of knowledge and skills to solving problems in meaningful contexts.

A planned programme of professional development for teachers of mathematics is currently underway in the 24 initial schools. This will continue as the remaining strands are introduced in these schools for successive cohorts of students. Additional support is being provided through a dedicated website (www.projectmaths.ie), where further and updated information is publicly available.

As part of the developmental initiative, teachers in the 24 schools are using, adapting, refining and developing a range of teaching and learning plans which will then be available as a resource for mathematics teachers in all other schools when they commence the revised syllabus strands. International research has shown that change is more effective and long-lasting where teachers work collaboratively in adopting and adapting new methods in their classrooms. As each phase of the project rolls out, additional teaching resources and support materials will be available which have been used in the initial group of schools and refined by teachers in their classrooms. Educational publishers are kept informed of the developments and they will publish revised textbooks in due course.

There is a two-year gap between the introduction of the changes in the 24 schools and their roll-out to all other schools, which begins in September 2010. To support the roll-out, all teachers of mathematics will have professional development in the form of seminars and workshops over a four-year period, beginning in 2009/2010 – the year before the introduction of the first two changed syllabus strands in all schools. This will involve professional development workshops/seminars for each teacher of mathematics in each of the Strands. It is intended that additional forms of support for teachers, including school-based in-service, will also be available.