Sir, - I refer to correspondence in your letters column of September 26th regarding a draft history syllabus for the Leaving Certificate. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), which advises the Minister for Education and Science on curriculum and assessment for primary and post-primary schools, has produced a draft syllabus for Leaving Certificate history. This draft is currently the subject of a consultation process.
The NCCA is a representative body. Its council draws on members from the various bodies that represent teachers, school managers, parents, employers and trade unions and from the Department of Education and Science. The membership of its course committees (including that for Leaving Certificate history), charged with the responsibility of producing draft syllabuses for consultation, is drawn from the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland, the Teachers' Union of Ireland, the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools, the Joint Managerial Body for Secondary Schools, the Irish Vocational Education Association, the subject association (in this case the History Teachers Association of Ireland), the National Council for Education Awards, the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities, and the Department of Education and Science.
The draft syllabus for history has been in preparation by the NCCA's course committee since 1995, during which time bodies represented on the NCCA have received regular updates. The consultation process for history (as with any subject) involves each of the bodies represented on the course committee and council consulting with their members on the content of the draft syllabus. In this way, teachers can make their views known through their subject association, their teacher union, any other body represented on council or by writing to NCCA as private individuals. At the current stage of the consultation process, NCCA also consults with other national bodies and interests not directly represented through its structures. The consultation period is usually of three months' duration. In the case of history, as a result of its issue at the start of summer, this period was extended to five months.
The NCCA takes the process of consultation seriously. Following the consultation period draft syllabuses are subjected to rigorous scrutiny in the light of the comments arising from consultation. This will be the case with Leaving Certificate History.
As a national body whose structures are highly representative, the NCCA reacts with concern when it is suggested that its procedures are anything but open, transparent and receptive of any views coming from those with an interest in the education system. Can I suggest that the letter writer enter into the consultation process by making his views known through any of the bodies representing him on the NCCA?
In response to requests from a number of bodies who wish to express views on the draft of the history syllabus, the period of consultation will be extended to the end of November. - Yours, etc., Albert O Ceallaigh,
Chief Executive, NCCA, Merrion Square, Dublin 2.