Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 242: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the project maths pilot programme; her plans to roll out the project to all schools in 2010; if she will confirm that the syllabus will be finalised ahead of the new course being rolled out to all schools; if she will confirm if reports that the October 2009 trial exam resulted in grade inflation of up to 150% when compared to the current maths syllabus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13475/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 experience in the project schools is informing the national mainstreaming of the initiative. The curriculum changes will be phased in over three years and mainstreaming is beginning in 2010/11 in all schools. A national programme of professional development for all teachers began in 2009, and will continue to at least 2013.

The NCCA website www.ncca.ie. sets out the draft syllabus for Strands 1, 2, 3 and 4 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. Overall, the changes will be implemented in 5 strands of mathematics over a 3 year period.

Project Maths is being supported by intensive investment in professional development for teachers, with some €5m being invested in this area in 2010.

Strands 1 and 2 will begin in all schools in September 2010 for first examination in 2012 at Leaving Certificate and 2013 at junior certificate. Strands 3 and 4 will begin in 2011. The syllabuses for Strands 1 and 2, already available in draft form, will be finalised in the light of experience in the 24 project schools, and will issue to all schools this summer. The remaining strands will follow in sequence, informed by the experience in the 24 project schools.

In October 2009 the State Examinations Commission undertook a trialling exercise on the draft Leaving Certificate sample papers for Phase 1 of Project Maths in the twenty-four initial schools involved in the project. The purpose of the trialling process was to measure the effectiveness of the draft sample papers and the marking schemes, rather than to test current levels of candidate achievement. As a result of the trialling process and feedback received from relevant parties, the SEC prepared a report, which is available on its website www.examinations.ie, and amendments were made to the drafts. The finalised versions of the sample papers were subsequently issued to the twenty four schools along with the report on the trialling exercise. The marked scripts of the candidates involved in the trialling exercise have also been returned to these schools. There is no evidence of any grade inflation in the marks awarded to the students involved in the trialling exercise.