Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will deliver a comprehensive programme of in-person continuing professional development to support curriculum change together with specific funding for further school resources. [14237/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department promotes the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) and supports for teachers and principals. The professional development needs of teachers are met through the provision of an induction programme for newly-qualified teachers, dedicated support for school leaders, national CPD for curricular and policy reform, and ongoing support for teachers. These supports are delivered by:

- Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) (cross sectoral service covering primary and senior cycle at post-primary)

- Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) (junior cycle at post-primary)

- National Induction Programme for Teachers (NIPT) (primary and post-primary) and the

- Centre for School Leadership (CSL) (primary and post-primary).

These Support Services will continue to provide their suite of professional development opportunities at primary and post-primary level. Discrete professional development will be provided for each of the forthcoming curriculum area specifications allowing teachers to access and request readily available formal and informal supports such as seminars, online supports, cluster meetings and the provision of web-based CPD. The strategic range and selection of CPD models recognises and supports teacher agency, operational considerations, tacaíocht trí mheán na Gaeilge and maximises upon the potential offered by blended approaches to CPD provision.

The new Primary Curriculum Framework was launched on 9 March 2023 providing the blueprint for guiding the enhancement of primary and special education for the coming years in primary and special schools. This framework sets out the vision, principles, approaches to learning and time allocations of the new Primary School Curriculum. Under the framework, schools will have a dedicated structure underpinning learning, teaching and assessment catering for all primary and special schools and introduce key competencies for children’s learning, setting out the main features and components for the full redevelopment of the primary school curriculum, detailing curriculum areas, subjects and suggested time allocations. It introduces and expands aspects of learning including STEM Education, Modern Foreign Languages and a broader Arts education. The Department of Education support services will continue to provide their suite of professional development opportunities at primary level, now drawing connection with the Framework content. The Inspectorate will support school leaders and teachers through their supportive and advisory visits, and assist school communities in introducing the changes to teaching and learning promoted in the framework.

The Primary Mathematics Curriculum will be introduced into schools in the 2023/24 school year. A comprehensive programme of professional development to support it is in development and will be provided through the lens of the new Primary Curriculum Framework and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment will also provide a toolkit made up of components including Progression Continua, Math Concepts, Examples of Children’s Learning and Support Materials for teachers. This toolkit will be launched at the same time as the curriculum specification.

The Primary Language Curriculum has been implemented in all primary and special schools since 2019 and is part of the redeveloped curriculum and will be updated to include modern foreign languages. Support continues to be provided by PDST in the case of primary schools and National Council for Special Education for special schools.

Implementation of the Junior Cycle commenced in September 2014, with the introduction of English for first year students. Further subjects were introduced on a phased basis up to 2019, and since 2019 all students starting Junior Cycle study the new Junior Cycle specifications for all of their subjects. The summer examinations in 2022 were the first time when all Junior Cycle subjects were examined in the new format.

In September 2023, the following curricular components will be implemented in schools:

- Redeveloped Social, Personal and Health Education specification

- NCCA developed 135 hour Physical Education specification

- Level 2 History Short Course

In the area of Junior Cycle Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) a two-day seminar is being provided by PDST and JCT Post-Primary SPHE teams introducing new and existing teachers of Junior Cycle SPHE to the updated National Council for Curriculum and Assessment specification. Teachers will be supported in developing their understanding of the diverse and facilitative role of the SPHE teacher and advance a shared understanding of how to create a safe and inclusive SPHE classroom.

In addition a new blended learning postgraduate programme to upskill post-primary teachers teaching SPHE and Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) is available which offers a pathway for progression for post-primary teachers interested in developing their skills in teaching SPHE/RSE.