School goers to take technology at Leaving Cert

THE Government is to spend €40 million on schools equipment to allow for the introduction of technology as a Leaving Certificate subject.

More than 2,700 young people studied technology for the Junior Certificate this year and it will be examined for the first time for school leavers in 2009, under plans announced by Education Minister Mary Hanafin yesterday.

She also outlined the replacement of Leaving Certificate technical drawing with design and communication graphics, which will test students’ skills of investigation, critical thinking and problem solving, making it more practical than the old subject which was taken by almost 6,000 student last June.