Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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415. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the recommended time on the curriculums in post primary school for the study of information technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26593/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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There are no times specified by my Department for the study of information technology. 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 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.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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416. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on streaming in post primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26594/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Findings from research in this area suggest that there is no one system of organisational grouping or student placement that works equally well for all students. It suggests that the success or otherwise of ability groupings depends less on the actual grouping itself than on the philosophy and purpose underpinning the grouping, and how the composition of the class groups and the quality of teaching reflects the intended philosophy.

However, research published by the Economic and Social Research Institute in 2011 indicates that the streaming of students by ability in Ireland has an adverse affect on overall education standards. This research shows that students in lower streams tend to perform much worse when grouped together while students assigned to higher ability classes do not make corresponding gains, hence average student performance falls. Similar to research elsewhere, the ESRI review shows that teacher-student interaction is crucial to student outcomes and that the teaching methods employed by teachers make a difference in this regard.

In light of these findings, many post-primary schools have started to move from strict streaming of their students in first year and now group their students according to mixed ability for much of the junior cycle. However, it needs to be noted that mixed ability settings can take many forms.

Schools are advised to adopt flexible grouping strategies that reflect individual needs and strive to improve educational outcomes for all students. Schools are also advised to ensure that groupings are regularly monitored to enable changes to be made if necessary.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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417. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the systems in place to ensure that information technology is taught to the correct standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26595/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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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 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.

The new subject of Leaving Certificate Computer Science will be implemented in schools from September 2018. The key skills in the Framework for Junior Cycle highlight the use of digital technologies across all subjects.  At primary level the new Mathematics Curriculum, which is currently under development, will include computational thinking, creative thinking skills and coding.

One of the priority actions under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 will be the development of a Digital Learning Framework for Teachers, based on the UNESCO ICT Competency Framework, to inform teacher training and professional development so teachers can better support students to become collaborative, problem solving, creative learners through using ICT.  The Framework is intended to inform educational policy makers, teacher-educators, providers of professional learning and working teachers on the role of ICT in educational reform.

The Strategy also commits to ensuring that all Department-funded training programmes for teachers will have the use of digital technologies embedded in their design, development and delivery. Guidance and examples of good practice on the effective and critical use of digital technologies for teaching, learning and assessment will be further expanded on for use by teachers.