Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the development of the primary school curriculum; and when she expects the curriculum to be published and rolled-out. [58470/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, it is more than 20 years since the primary curriculum has been reviewed and redeveloped and much has changed since then. The ongoing high level curriculum review is about ensuring that the primary curriculum continues to provide a strong foundation for all children to thrive, flourish and realise their potential during childhood and into the future.

Curriculum updates have already taken place with the phased introduction of the Primary Language Curriculum/Curaclam Teanga na Bunscoile in 2016 in junior infants to second class. In September 2019 the full curriculum was introduced which supports teaching and learning in Irish and English in all stages across our primary and special schools.

The integrated nature of the Primary Languages Curriculum allows teachers to plan for and support children’s progression in Irish or English. A sustained programme of professional development has been made available by my Department to support teachers in their implementation of the curriculum since 2016.

The NCCA are now in the final stages of developing the new Primary Curriculum Framework. The Framework supports the development of the primary curriculum which builds on the successes and strengths of previous curricula while recognising and responding to challenges, changing needs and priorities. It provides agency and flexibility in schools and makes connections with preschool, primary, special, and post-primary schools. It also identifies and responds to emerging priorities for children’s learning and supports a variety of pedagogical approaches and strategies with assessment central to learning and teaching.

The impact of COVID-19 required changes to the consultation timeline, with a revised two-phased approach which was completed by the end of February 2022. Drawing on work with the Schools Forum, research, and work with education partners and wider stakeholders to include teachers, school leaders, parents and guardians, the Framework highlights what is important in primary education and provides a description of what should be prioritised in children’s learning.

The Framework will help schools to make local curriculum decisions as they work with broad learning outcomes that are tailored to, and appropriate for, the children in their school community. It is intended that the finalised Primary Curriculum Framework will be published early in 2023.

The new Primary Mathematics Curriculum is also currently being developed by the NCCA. This work draws on consultation findings, work with schools, and research in the area. Like the Primary Language Curriculum/Curaclam Teanga na Bunscoile, the new mathematics curriculum will use learning outcomes to describe children’s mathematical learning at the end of a period of time.

The new Primary Mathematics Curriculum will also take account of findings from the consultation on the Draft Primary Curriculum Framework and the implementation of the Primary Languages Curriculum to date.

The Primary Curriculum Framework will guide the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in developing a specification for each five curriculum areas of the Primary Curriculum over the following years. To this end development groups have been established that will ensure the specifications will be developed through research, deliberation, consultation, and engagement. The introduction of the new specifications are expected to take place in the coming years.