Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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460. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if African history will be introduced into the junior cycle to raise awareness of the slave trade and colonialism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14457/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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History at Junior Cycle aims to enable students to develop the necessary conceptual understanding, disciplinary skills and subject knowledge to investigate the actions of people in the past and to come to a deeper understanding of the human condition. Students also come to see the world, and their place in it, from an historical perspective; and understand how the people and events of the past have shaped the contemporary world.

Learners have the option of exploring many different topics of personal interest whilst undertaking Junior Cycle history. Under Strand Three of the Junior Cycle history specification (The History of Europe and the Wider World), with specific reference to Learning Outcome 3.2, students should be able to evaluate the impact of conquest and colonisation on people with particular reference to Portuguese and Spanish exploration.

There are other opportunities to explore different aspects of history, such as the impact of colonialism, whilst undertaking Classroom Based Assessments (CBA’s).

CBA 1 - The Past in my Place, allows students to present their findings on a study of an aspect of their home place that they consider of interest. Students have opted to study topics such as the French colonisation in North Africa for CBA 1 for instance.

CBA 2 - A Life in Time, students present their findings on a person of historical interest to them. The project is designed to allow students to follow their personal interest in a person from the past. This person may be a well-known figure or someone from the student’s home place or family, but whose story can be shown to be of historical significance or interest.