Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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365. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which science will become a compulsory junior certificate subject; and the way in which professional development for mathematics and science teachers has been prioritised. [16380/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Dr Travers, in his February report, recommended that implementation of Junior Cycle science be postponed from September 2015 to September 2016. It is not intended that science be a compulsory subject in Junior Cycle but one of 21 subjects available to schools. Currently over 90% of students take Junior Cycle science and it is expected that the vast majority will continue to do so.

Since 2010, the Project Maths Development Team, www.projectmaths.ie, a support service funded by my Department provides a range of professional development supports including workshops, and resources for 6,000 post-primary teachers of mathematics across the country.

Since 2012, the Professional Diploma in Mathematics for Teaching, a blended learning, two year part-time programme Professional Diploma in Mathematics for Teaching has been made available nationwide and free of charge, to assist 'out-of-field' teachers to acquire skills for effective mathematics teaching and to register with the Teaching Council as teachers of mathematics at post-primary level. The programme, provided by a consortium led by the University of Limerick, is being made available again in September 2015.

The new Junior Cycle Science curriculum is being introduced in schools in September 2016. A range of comprehensive continuing professional development (CPD) will be provided for teachers of science. Support is also available at primary and post primary level through the Professional Development Service for Teachers.