Leaving Cert reform to introduce project work

LEAVING Certificate students will have to carry out a project in all subjects before their written exams as part of an extensive reform of the system being finalised.

The syllabus for two new exam subjects — physical education and politics and society — will also be sent to schools in the next year, with work also underway on a non-exam social, personal and health education (SPHE) course. Details are also being finalised for short courses in enterprise and psychology for Leaving Cert students and new programmes for transition year students, such as soap operas and popular culture, media and communications, and discovering Irish art.

The plans are in the final stages of development by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), the official advisory body to Education Minister Mary Hanafin.