Learning a lesson on curriculum reform

A SLOWED pace of change to subject courses, increased teacher-training days, and consideration of extra resources for schools were promised by Ruairi Quinn’s officials last Friday.

They were meeting teacher unions, representatives of school managers and parents, and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA).

The working group was having its first meeting 15 months after Mr Quinn announced controversial proposals which he came up with after considering NCCA advice on how to radically overhaul junior cycle, the first three years of second-level education. Crucially, he went beyond the statutory body’s recommendations on one question — who should mark the students?