Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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76. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which science will become a compulsory junior certificate subject. [11346/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The NCCA is currently evaluating the responses it has received on a background paper for Junior Cycle Science in the context of the development of a new specification for Science. The new specification is due for implementation in schools from September 2015.

Overall, I am in favour of schools deciding what junior cycle programme they will offer, mindful of the need to reflect the interests of their students. Curricular choice has been shown to be an important factor in strengthening retention rates to completion of senior cycle in school.

Good and enthusiastic science teachers currently inspire a real interest in their subject. In fact in 2013 90% of students sat the Junior Certificate science examination and it was not compulsory. Such enthusiasm will continue to ensure that students into the future will want to study science.

In implementing the Framework for Junior Cycle all students will be expected to value the role and contribution of science and technology to society, and their personal, social and global importance. It is up to schools to determine how this will be provisioned in their junior cycle programme.