Written answers

Tuesday, 9 November 2010

Department of Education and Science

School Curriculum

9:00 am

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills her views on the proposal from an organisation to make transition year a community service year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41043/10]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The key aim of the Transition Year Programme is to provide for a strong focus on personal development, collaborative and experiential learning, learning in the community and work experience. The programme is also designed to enable students to experience a wide range of educational inputs, and sample subjects which have not been taken at lower second level. It is a maturing process and a chance to engage in group work, project work and self directed learning. Schools are free to devise a flexible modular programme within an overall framework set out by the Department of Education and Science. Within this context, there is scope within the social outreach aspects of the programme for initiatives such as engaging with the elderly to be pursued. Initiatives promoting inter generational solidarity have been provided in the past in programmes such as Transition Year, and some 6000 students annually take part in the Young Social Innovators Programme. Within the overall framework set out by the Department for Transition Year, decisions on the format and content of the programme to be offered are made locally by schools, and this will continue to be case. I am satisfied that there are key benefits from promoting inter-generational solidarity and co-operation in a way which meets social awareness and communications objectives of the Transition Year Programme. However, it is also important that schools have the flexibility to provide for school based innovation and creativity in the development of the programme. Organisations wishing to promote initiatives in this area are welcome to arrange for the development of Transition Units, using the module descriptor format which has been developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment for this purpose. These can be progressed in consultation with the NCCA and the Co-ordinator of the Transition Year Programme within the Professional Development Service for Teachers.

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