Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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61. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the CSPE subject for students due to start secondary school in 2014; if it will remain examinable in its current format or if changes are envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14509/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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A circular letter issued to post-primary schools earlier this month on the arrangements for the implementation of the Junior Cycle Student Award for the academic year 2014/ 2015. It clearly specifies what is required in relation to CSPE. If schools opt to offer their first year students entering post-primary school in September 2014 the existing syllabus in CSPE, then those CSPE students will present for certification in 2017, as per current practice. The terminal components of the CSPE examination for these students will be timetabled, set and marked by the State Examinations Commission in 2017. This will be the final year that the SEC will administer the CSPE examination. If schools choose to offer the new short course in CSPE, then the work of those students will be assessed by their teachers through school based assessment.