Changes to Leaving Cert that focus on large marks for individual projects and continuous assessment are adding further disadvantage to disadvantaged schools, the Dáil was told today.
Fee-paying schools have the resources to better exploit the opportunities compared to free schools, especially in rural areas where the internet is often unreliable, Minister for Education Helen McEntee was told.
New Labour Party TD Eoghan Kenny, a former teacher, said: “Private schools are well equipped with technology, with suites of laboratories, in some cases with lab technicians to advise (the student).
“Then you move to the local voluntary school,with hundred-year-old infrastructure in place, amd more than likely two very basic science labs, with sporadic wi-fi connection.”
The senior cycle Leaving reform proposals thus “favour the children of affluent families”, Mr Kenny added, saying the ideas were being rushed.
Mr Kenny said he had spent seven years in prefabs as a student, which continued to be the case for tens of thousands of students around the country.
Meanwhile the introduction of pupil projects means 40pc of every subject "is being left open to manipulation”, he argued, apparently referring to the use of artificial intelligence -- which secondary teachers have not been trained to detect.
He called call for the establishment of a new Convention on Education for teachers, parents and other stakeholders, including students themselves.
The Government is currently failing to engage with teachers on the moves, which would mean them being “rushed, poorly thought out and poorly resourced”, Mr Kenny said.
The new syllabus cycle starts in September for the Leaving Cert in 2027.
It covers subjects such as business studies - which the new Cork North-Central TD said he himself had taught - along with biology, chemistry and physics, along with languages such as Arabic, Latin and ancient Greek.
Fee-paying schools have the resources to better exploit the opportunities compared to free schools, especially in rural areas where the internet is often unreliable, Minister for Education Helen McEntee was told.
New Labour Party TD Eoghan Kenny, a former teacher, said: “Private schools are well equipped with technology, with suites of laboratories, in some cases with lab technicians to advise (the student).
“Then you move to the local voluntary school,with hundred-year-old infrastructure in place, amd more than likely two very basic science labs, with sporadic wi-fi connection.”
The senior cycle Leaving reform proposals thus “favour the children of affluent families”, Mr Kenny added, saying the ideas were being rushed.
Mr Kenny said he had spent seven years in prefabs as a student, which continued to be the case for tens of thousands of students around the country.
Meanwhile the introduction of pupil projects means 40pc of every subject "is being left open to manipulation”, he argued, apparently referring to the use of artificial intelligence -- which secondary teachers have not been trained to detect.
He called call for the establishment of a new Convention on Education for teachers, parents and other stakeholders, including students themselves.
The Government is currently failing to engage with teachers on the moves, which would mean them being “rushed, poorly thought out and poorly resourced”, Mr Kenny said.
The new syllabus cycle starts in September for the Leaving Cert in 2027.
It covers subjects such as business studies - which the new Cork North-Central TD said he himself had taught - along with biology, chemistry and physics, along with languages such as Arabic, Latin and ancient Greek.
But Minister McEntee said a huge amount of work has been done in terms of consultation. There was no suggestion of "a quick turnaround or a quick change", she said.
Engagement on the envisaged reforms had started back in 2016, she pointed out.
Her Department was continuing to engage with schools, teachers, boards of management and students, she said.
Mr Kenny asked the Minister to put herself in the shoes of a chemistry teacher teaching the new syllabus.
"You've had basically a few hours of in-service training. It's totally unfair on teachers and definitely unfair on students”
Ms McEntee replied: “We will always engage with our teachers because they are the only way in which this will happen.”
She said that since 2020 more than €6bn had been spent on capital projects “and I have said very clearly to the unions that we will invest more."
Ms McEntee said students should be equipped with the necessary new skills in a world “which has changed completely” in terms of work. “It is important that our State exams reflect all of this”.
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