Changes to include qualification for special needs students

CHANGES to the Junior Certificate are to include a new qualification for students with special educational needs.

The National Certificate of Junior Cycle Education (level 2 on the National Framework of Qualifications) will be available to the small number of students with mild to moderate categories of learning disability, who are currently taught in mainstream and special schools.

While they may be in classes with students preparing for the new level 3 qualification, they will be assessed in a core curriculum designed around five priority learning units (PLUs): Communicating and Literacy, Numeracy, Looking after Myself, Living in a Community and Preparing for Work.