Minister faces calls for smaller classes and AI‑proofed Leaving Cert
Education minister Hildegarde Naughton speaking at the Irish National Teachers' Organisation annual congress in Killarney. Picture: Moya Nolan
Education minister Hildegarde Naughton has come under pressure to reduce class sizes, “AI-proof” the Leaving Certificate, and address teacher workloads as she made her first appearances at the annual teachers’ conferences.
In her first official address to union delegates as education minister, Ms Naughton pledged to “push” for more resources for her department.
In her address to delegates at the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) annual congress in Killarney, Ms Naughton said she makes “no apologies for working to secure the additional resources that are needed to support the critical work that happens each day in our classrooms”.
The school system is demand-led and budget resourcing needs to follow suit, she added.
“I will continue to push for the resources and supports that all students need to grow and thrive.”
Ms Naughton told delegates she intends to focus on three key areas over the next year:
- Helping teachers and school leaders 'focus on teaching and learning';
- Reforms of special education;
- Professional development for teachers 'to further support our teachers in helping children flourish in an increasingly complex world'.
Ms Naughton said she will also continue to push for supports for students with additional needs.
“This Government is committed to an education system where every child and young person ... is valued, is actively supported, and nurtured to reach their full potential,” she said.
“We accept, however, that the system needs to adapt. We must strive to develop an education system which supports students of all abilities without attaching a label.
“We need to embrace a more inclusive model of education, where young people of all abilities are catered for in their community.
“There is much work to do, and I intend this to begin in the very near future.”
Meanwhile, at the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) annual conference in Wexford, the education minister denied that the creation of a new taskforce on AI use in schools is a belated response, saying that “a lot of work has happened to date” on the issue.
On Tuesday morning, Ms Naughton announced the establishment of the AI in Schools External Advisory Taskforce to “consider the implications of AI for teaching, learning, and assessment across the school system”.
It came as the impact of AI on compulsory Leaving Cert project work — introduced for science subjects and business last September — was discussed at length at the ASTI conference.
The Department of Education approved the use of AI for such project work last year under the provision that it is adequately cited.
Many teachers are of the opinion that such use may be undetectable, adding that the onus for tracking students’ use of AI should not fall to them.
Asked why the same taskforce was not convened several years ago before introducing the use of AI into the syllabus, given the topic has been troubling educators for the past five years, Ms Naughton said: “This isn’t the starting point. A lot of work has happened to date.”
The taskforce would be reporting to her each quarter, “so that we’re getting updates in relation to the tools and supports for our schools”.
The taskforce announcement, made just ahead of the opening of the ASTI conference, came as something of a surprise.
ASTI president Padraig Curley departed briefly from his prepared remarks to say it “may be a step in the right direction”.
Speaking later to reporters, Ms Naughton said the “genie is out of the bottle” with regard to AI.
“Artificial intelligence is here to stay,” she said. “It’s really important that we are adapting to this new digital world, that we are equipping our young people around the ethical and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.”
She insisted that there is “nothing wrong with using artificial intelligence, as long as you reference it”.
Asked about the ASTI’s vote to move oral exams back into term time from their current Easter holiday slot, Ms Naughton said she did not feel the previous arrangement — where language teachers left their classes to conduct exams — represented “a very good use of teacher time”.
The orals were first moved to the Easter holidays during the pandemic, mainly due to issues sourcing adequate numbers of qualified examiners during term.
Ms Naughton said that keeping the orals during Easter break “allows for students to get at least a 10-day break after they do their oral exams before they go back into coursework”.
- Jess Casey is the Irish Examiner Education Correspondent
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