Revised science course taken up by less than half of second-level schools

LESS than half the country’s second- level schools have decided to teach a revised science course which caused a major dispute between a teachers’ union and the Government.

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland said last night that thousands of children in poorer areas will be left behind as a result of the low uptake of the new Junior Certificate syllabus.

According to the Department of Education more than 300 of around 750 second-level schools notified them up to yesterday’s deadline that they would instruct the new course.