Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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414. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to review the curriculum for junior and leaving certificate cycle in respect of information technology studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26592/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Action Plan for Education 2017 provides that the new subject of Leaving Certificate Computer Science will be implemented in schools from September 2018. The new subject specification is currently being developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment through its subject development group for Computer Science. Phase 1 of the implementation process is scheduled to commence in September 2018 in a small number of schools, with the subject being available to all schools from September 2020.

Coding is one of the Junior Cycle short courses developed by the NCCA and available to schools.

The Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 (Enhancing Teaching, Learning & Assessment), launched in October 2015, sets out a clear vision for the role of ICT in teaching, learning and assessment in primary and post primary schools. The Strategy is focused on realising the potential of digital technologies to transform the learning experiences of students by helping them become engaged thinkers, active learners, knowledge constructors and global citizens who participate fully in society and the economy.  The Strategy states that all future curricula will include clear statements that focus on the development of digital learning skills and the use of ICT as a resource in achieving specific outcomes across the curriculum.

An Implementation Advisory Group has been established to guide the implementation of the digital strategy.  Membership of the Group comprise representation from the Department, industry, academic experts, practitioners/teachers and representation from the tech voluntary sector.

My Department is currently finalising a 2017 Digital Strategy Action Plan which I expect to publish shortly.