Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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27. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the junior certificate curriculum is appropriate and is not overloaded with topics, but rather concentrates on core topics essential to numeracy, literacy and general social development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10875/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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One of the key aims of Junior Cycle Reform was to move from a large number of subjects with heavy curricula examined in a traditional memory based way. After a very detailed consultation process the NCCA recommended a new approach:

- limited compulsory subjects around basic literacy and numeracy

- 24 statements of learning

It is important to say that the 24 statements of learning include important elements which cultivate a historical perspective.

The new Junior Cycle Programme has also greatly enlivened subjects with a new emphasis on projects and self-directed learning.

Schools have been given greater flexibility and autonomy in subject choice. This increased flexibility and autonomy for schools reflects practice in other high-performing education systems such as New Zealand, Finland and Estonia.

The 2011 Literacy and Numeracy strategy, which was a response to negative international survey findings for Ireland in relation to Literacy and Numeracy, placed a priority focus on literacy and numeracy skills, delivered primarily in subject terms via English, Irish and Maths.