THE Department of Education, in response to last week's article on the Leaving Certificate art exam, says the balance between the marks awarded for the academic and practical components of the exam is quite similar to the balance that exists for other practical subjects such as engineering and construction studies.
"There is no provision for a qualifying mark in the practical components of these examinations nor are there qualifying marks for the oral/aural components in language examinations.
"When the Leaving Certificate art syllabus is revised, it will form a continuum for the recently-revised Junior Certificate art, craft, design programme, which was examined for the first time in 1992. The course committee will, in due course, examine in some detail the structure and relative weightings of the various components of the proposed new syllabus.
"As is the case for all draft syllabuses, this draft syllabus will be available for consultative purposes, probably during 1987, before it is finalised and submitted to the Department for approval," a statement issued by the Department says.
The statement points out that "the Government's White Paper on Education, Charting our Education Future, affirms the centrality of the arts within educational policy and provision, particularly during compulsory schooling. Therefore the Department does not deem it necessary to set up a separate unit for the promotion of art in education."
