Written answers

Wednesday, 11 July 2018

Department of Education and Skills

School Curriculum

Photo of Kathleen FunchionKathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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208. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of providing a continuous assessment element in the leaving certificate programme. [31135/18]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) advises my Department in relation to the development of the curriculum and of assessment methodologies in schools. The NCCA have commenced a review of senior cycle programmes and vocational pathways with a view to recommending areas for development. The review commenced with the publication of a NCCA commissioned study on Upper Secondary Education in Nine Jurisdictions: Overview Report(2018). The report, in addition to other areas, sets out the approach taken to assessment, reporting and certification at upper secondary level across nine jurisdictions internationally. In relation to assessment and reporting, it concludes that most countries use a combination of external and internal assessment at this stage of education, with internal (school-based) arrangements featuring quite prominently in vocational, as opposed to academic, pathways, especially as curricula and systems at this level become more credit-based, with credits being used as a basis for student progression into further and higher education.

Methods of assessment at senior cycle will form part of a key theme for discussion by stakeholders in the NCCA's consultation on the Senior Cycle Review. Any approaches taken to assessment and the methods used will have to be consistent with, and fit, the aims of senior cycle and the curriculum goals and content of its courses and subjects; all in the interest of contributing to the learning progress and achievements of students.

Given the early stage of the work which the NCCA is undertaking on the review of senior cycle, the cost of providing a continuous assessment element in a new senior cycle programme cannot yet been estimated.

Further information in relation to the review of senior cycle, including the above mentioned report, is available on the NCCA website at

Photo of Kathleen FunchionKathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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209. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the previous estimated cost of the junior certificate programme; and the estimated cost of the new junior cycle programme. [31136/18]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Implementation of the new Framework for Junior Cycle commenced in September 2014 with the introduction of English, for first year students. Subjects are being introduced on a phased basis up to 2019, as well as the new Wellbeing area of learning.  

Given the range of areas and bodies impacted by development, implementation and assessment of the new Framework, as well as the difficulty of disaggregating certain cost elements, it is not possible to provide a figure for the overall costs of its introduction. However, in terms of significant cost components, it is estimated that some €8 million will be spent in 2019 on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for teachers and the provision of management resource hours to schools. Significant provision has also been made for professional time for all teachers involved in the delivery of Junior Cycle, in order to support schools and teachers in implementing the new arrangements. This allocation equates to 22 hours of professional time for each full-time teacher each year to ensure that class contact time is not reduced, and costs approximately €40 million per annum.

It is not possible, given the broad and embedded nature of many of the costs involved, together with the historical nature of some costs, to provide a figure for the cost of the earlier junior certificate programme.

Photo of Kathleen FunchionKathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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210. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if research has been carried out on providing a continuous assessment proportion to the leaving certificate; and if so, if same will be provided. [31137/18]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) advises my Department in relation to the development of the curriculum and of assessment methodologies in schools. The NCCA have commenced a review of senior cycle programmes and vocational pathways with a view to recommending areas for development. The review commenced with the publication of a NCCA commissioned study on Upper Secondary Education in Nine Jurisdictions: Overview Report (2018). The report, in addition to other areas, sets out the approach taken to assessment, reporting and certification at upper secondary level across nine jurisdictions internationally. In relation to assessment and reporting, it concludes that most countries use a combination of external and internal assessment at this stage of education, with internal (school-based) arrangements featuring quite prominently in vocational, as opposed to academic, pathways, especially as curricula and systems at this level become more credit-based, with credits being used as a basis for student progression into further and higher education.

The review of senior cycle offers those working in Irish education and the general public an opportunity to contribute to building a shared vision for senior cycle. Assessment, reporting and certification will be one of the key themes discussed by stakeholders, and by students, teachers, management and parents in the 40 schools involved in the consultation cycles used for the review. The key task in this area of the review is to ensure that the approaches taken to assessment and the methods used are consistent with, and fit, the aims of senior cycle and the curriculum goals and content of its courses and subjects; all in the interest of contributing to the learning progress and achievements of students.

Further information in relation to the review of senior cycle, including the above mentioned report, is available on the NCCA website at

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