A radically different vision of second level education was welcomed yesterday by the Minister for Education and Science, Mr Dempsey.Kathryn Holmquist, Education Correspondent, reports.
By the year 2010, phrases like "Higher" and "Ordinary" could be things of the past, students may be allowed to choose their own dress codes and schools may remain open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., with students having more control over their time so that they can work part-time if necessary.
The Leaving Cert could be renamed "An Tairseach" (the Threshold) and, to receive a Certificate, a student will need no more than one Transition Unit (TU), with no need to take exams.
The plan has been drawn up by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and is the product of the widest ever consultation on education to be conducted in the State's history. Students, parent groups, Forfás and business interests were consulted, as well as second and third level educators. An on-line survey of 1,800 people - a quarter of them students - also informed the plan.
It was presented yesterday to a forum of leading figures in Irish education, including the former Taoiseach and chancellor of the National University of Ireland, Mr Garret Fitzgerald, and the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey. It will be presented to the Minister for his consideration in December after a further period of consultation.
If he accepts the plan, Transition Year as it is known, will be spread over two or three years in a series of up to six Transition Units. The senior cycle will last two or three years, depending on the school's policy, and certificate examinations will be optional, although required for third level entry.
The "student-centred" plan will offer a revolution in 'school culture', where students are treated like adults and the relationship between teachers and students becomes one of equality and mutual co-operation.
The plan was described as an example of "futurist thinking" by Ms Anne Looney, chief executive of the NCCA, at the forum in Dublin Castle yesterday.
But while educators are enthusiastic about the plan, the Minister warned that its implementation would be possible only if teachers were willing to dramatically change their working practises and be prepared to engage in professional development during their summer holidays.
Students would be taught to think and to communicate, rather than amassing knowledge. The plan would require a major increased educational investment in line with the spending of other OECD countries, said Ms Looney.
The Minister said money would be made available, but only if teachers agreed to co-operate. Their day-to-day teaching responsibilities would actually be "less difficult" and their stress would be reduced as students become more positively motivated, Mr Dempsey said.
Mr John White of ASTI welcomed the plan, adding that for "any curriculum change to become reality rather than rhetoric, it has to be the teachers who have to implement major changes across the board. The changes cannot be imposed. Teachers must engage with the process, but I think that the NCCA has the confidence of the teaching community".
Mr Jim Dorney of the Teachers' Union of Ireland also expressed confidence in the proposal and in teachers' willingness to implement it.
Ms Emer Ní Chuagáin, of the Union of Secondary Students, said that today's students were fully capable of handling the increased responsibility and independence.
The plan will be available in libraries and schools and feedback from students and parents is welcome.