Poor facilities hit schools’ technology subject plans

ALMOST one in three schools seeking to teach a new Leaving Certificate subject can not offer it to their students because of insufficient space for equipment or unqualified staff.

Department of Education figures show that 75 schools surveyed last summer wish to begin classes for Leaving Certificate technology next September. They were among 136 schools currently offering technology for the Junior Certificate which were asked about their interest in extending.

Only 48 were given the go-ahead by department officials last month to start teaching the new syllabus, which will be examined for the first time in June 2009. They will receive grants of €40,000 each in the coming weeks for specialist equipment, under a support package for technology and three revised subjects announced by Education Minister Mary Hanafin last week.