Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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152. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the school curriculum at primary and second level continues to be adequate to meet the challenges of the workplace in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14650/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The curriculum has to evolve if our schools are to successfully equip young people with the capacity to meet the requirements of a modern, competitive economy.

The Action Plan for Education details clear curriculum change and other commitments that will secure the step-change needed to equip learners with the skills necessary to participate in the modern economy. It includes:

- actions to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) at primary and post-primary levels;

- the introduction of a new Leaving Certificate Computer Science subject from September 2018;

- the development of a new Primary Mathematics Curriculum, which will support all children in the development of algorithmic and computational thinking, which form the basis of coding;

- the implementation of a Digital Strategy in schools to enrich the teaching, learning and assessment environment.

The entire thrust of Junior Cycle reform is to enrich the learning experience of pupils with new curricula, new opportunities for project work, team work, short courses, and the new Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement which can showcase this work. This approach puts a higher value on the competencies which employers seek.

As part of the Framework for Junior Cycle a new Science specification was introduced in September 2016, while the new Mathematics specification will be implemented from September 2018. A short course on coding is also in place.

At Senior Cycle a review of the Leaving Certificate has been commenced by the NCCA. A Primary Level a review of structure and time allocation is under way.