Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 291 of 4 May 2022, if she will meet with a teaching organisation (details supplied) in relation to her announced changes to the leaving certificate. [25322/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, on 29 March I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their Senior Cycle experience.

The three tenets of Senior Cycle reform are to:

- Empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century

- Enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system

- Embed wellbeing and reduce student stress levels

In my announcement I set out a clear vision for Senior Cycle, building upon the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s (NCCA’s) Advisory Report. The reforms I announced on 29 March include initiatives to spread the assessment load for students and do so in a way that enhances student wellbeing.

As I set out in my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 291 of 4 May 2022, the NCCA’s review of senior cycle involved an extensive range of research, consultations and communications with a wide range of stakeholders across a number of phases, including teachers and teacher representative organisations, including teacher unions and subject teacher associations.

It should also be noted that teachers are represented on the Council of the NCCA and also on the various working and development structures employed by the NCCA. Furthermore, a network school approach will be used.