John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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227. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline his views on whether the science curriculum is sufficient at primary school level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3273/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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At primary school level, the Social, Environmental and Scientific Education area of the curriculum which includes the Science Curriculum enables the child to learn and practice a wide range of skills and to acquire open, critical and responsible attitudes. The content of the Science curriculum is broken into four main strands /areas of learning: Living Things, Energy and Forces, Materials and Environmental Awareness and Care. The Science curriculum effectively allows for the evolving nature of the subject by having a programme which is not solely focused on acquiring knowledge and facts but rather promotes skill development. Pupils’ skills of working scientifically and designing and making are developed as work is completed on the four areas. Pupils are provided with opportunities to develop their higher-order skills by applying the knowledge and skills acquired to solving open-ended investigations and to design and make activities.

Therefore the Primary Science curriculum aims to develop knowledge and understanding of scientific and technological concepts through exploration, to develop a scientific approach to problem solving which emphasises understanding and constructive thinking, and to foster children’s natural curiosity.

Other additional opportunities to support pupils’ learning in Science through their involvement in STEM education initiatives in primary schools include: Discover Primary Science and Maths Awards; the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE); SciFest; CoderDojo; Coolest Projects; RDS STEM Learning; LearnStorm; Smart Futures; and the Green Schools’ Programme.

My Department's Action Plan for Education for 2016-2019 and the National Skills Strategy contain a clear commitment to supporting and developing Science, Technology, Engineer and Mathematics (STEM). My Department also published a new STEM Education Policy Statement and Implementation Plan in November 2017. The Implementation Plan, which covers the period 2017-2019, contains a range of actions for primary education, including: providing guidance and support to newly qualified teachers to embed STEM into teaching, learning and assessment; commencing a school-based initiative on coding in primary schools to explore approaches to integrating coding in the primary curriculum; and providing advice and guidance to schools to facilitate teachers and schools working together to improve the quality of STEM teaching and learning.

Additionally, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is in the process of developing a new primary Mathematics curriculum which will include elements of creative and computational thinking, which underpin coding and computer science.