Science course should be taught ‘where possible’

Education Correspondent

Dr Danny O’Hare said the Government should borrow to invest in upgrading school laboratories and more students must be encouraged to take science degrees if the country wants to continue attracting foreign labour investment.

He made his comments as the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and the Department of Education remain at odds over the new course for Junior Certificate students.

Education Minister Noel Dempsey is allowing schools the option of teaching the old course to first year students for another year, but the ASTI is telling all members not to teach the new syllabus. The union has concerns over safety in older school labs because the new course involves more student experiments than before.

Dr O’Hare chairs the Forfás Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) and headed up the Task Force on Physical Sciences, which made a major report to the Government last year. “We could be waiting a long time for every secondary school to be fully equipped but it is too important to delay the new syllabus. There has to be some compromise on both sides so that it can be taught where possible,” he said.

“It is designed to get more people to take up science subjects for Leaving Certificate and go on to do science or engineering at third level. The numbers of Irish graduates with high-tech skills were very important in creating the Celtic Tiger but the economy could slip back if we lose that advantage,” he said.

The EGFSN published a study yesterday on the future requirements of the biotechnology sector, Its recommendations include the provision of modern labs and technicians to assist teachers in all second-level schools, which the ASTI has demanded before it agrees to teach the new syllabus.

The union was angered this week by news the Department of Education might cancel pay increases to teachers under benchmarking if they proceed with the ban on the new science course. President Pat Cahill said it was an optional syllabus so teachers would not breach the anti-strike clause in the social partnership agreement.