Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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58. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made on and timeline for the implementation of junior certificate reforms. [45031/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The new Framework for Junior Cycle gives students the opportunity to develop a wider range of knowledge and skills to equip them for further learning, for work, for responsible and active citizenship and for healthy living. It gives students better learning opportunities and recognises non academic achievement. Implementation of the new Framework for Junior Cycle is now fully proceeding and a number of new subject specifications – English, Science and Business Studies - have already been introduced in previous school years. From September 2017, new specifications for Irish/Gaeilge, Modern Foreign Languages and Visual Art (formerly known as Art, Craft and Design) have now also been introduced under phase 3 of the Framework, together with the new area of learning entitled Wellbeing. Phase 4 sees the introduction of Mathematics, Home Economics, History, Music and Geography from September 2018.  Phase 5 will see the introduction in September 2019 of the technology subjects, Religious Education, Jewish Studies and Classics.

Provisional examination results for Junior Certificate/Cycle 2017 were issued by the State Examinations Commission on 13 September. Towards the end of this year students will receive the first Junior Cycle Profiles of Achievement from their schools.

From September 2017, in all subjects areas, full-time teachers involved in the delivery of Junior Cycle are entitled to an annual allocation of 22 hours of professional time within timetable, with a pro-rata entitlement for part-time teachers, as a professional support to them in their work in junior cycle.

The Junior Cycle for Teachers Service (JCT) is providing a dedicated continuing professional development support service to all teachers and schools.  It is providing high quality CPD for school leaders and teachers, and effective teaching and learning resources, to support the ongoing roll-out of the new Junior Cycle Framework.