Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his strategy to ensure that young persons progressing from second to third level education are on the road to employment here. [25969/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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There are a number of measures currently being undertaken to prepare second level students for future employment and careers.

At Junior Cycle, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) was asked to review the junior certificate and advise on the scope for reform which would provide for a more active learning experience for students, the promotion of real understanding, creativity and innovation. I expect to receive the NCCA's advice on the revised Junior Cycle shortly. At Senior Cycle, five key skills, information processing, communications, critical and creative thinking, personal effectiveness, and working with others, are being embedded in all senior cycle subjects as syllabuses are revised, and a second assessment component is also being embedded. These changes should help to prepare students for the world of work.

In addition, all post-primary schools also provide a guidance and counselling service for their students. The service includes the provision of individual guidance and counselling for students at critical stages in their education. Guidance staff in schools are teachers with a post graduate qualification in guidance. As well as their guidance qualification, guidance staff are members of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors which is funded by the Department to provide professional development supports. Guidance staff also have the support of the National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE) which was established to act as a national centre of excellence for guidance. The NCGE provides on-line training on planning the guidance programme in schools, as well as resources and advice and a guidance handbook.