Written answers

Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Department of Education and Skills

State Examinations

Photo of Jonathan O'BrienJonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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569. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for leaving certificate reform. [12912/15]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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At both primary and post primary I have prioritised literacy and numeracy as key skills for all students. Complementing the Literacy and Numeracy strategy has been the recent implementation of new specifications in maths at junior and senior cycle - known as Project Maths.

The NCCA has provided me with new specifications for Leaving Certificate Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The NCCA has notified the Department that before the specifications are made available to all schools that it, working with the SEC and my Department, will trial, in particular the proposed new practical examination.

Work is currently underway on revising Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science, Economics and Applied Mathematics.

My Department is also currently planning to introduce 'Politics and Society' as a new optional Leaving Certificate subject. It is intended that this new subject will be trialled in a number of schools in the 2016/2017 school year.

Work is ongoing in relation to changes to assessment arrangements for Leaving Certificate Art 2018 and for Leaving Certificate Home Economics for students commencing the 2 year Senior Cycle in 2015.

In addition, the NCCA is finalising a new PE curriculum framework for Senior Cycle and work is ongoing on a review of Leaving Certificate Gaeilge.

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