New Senior Cycle subject specifications must be fit for purpose and must not negatively impact students’ learning, their experience of Senior Cycle and the Leaving Cert, or the education system, the incoming ASTI President Donal Cremin has warned.
Mr Cremin, who begins his term as ASTI President tomorrow (Thursday, August 1st) said the ASTI has expressed its serious concerns to the Department of Education and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) about aspects of the redevelopment of the Senior Cycle.
Certain proposed changes to the teaching, learning and assessment of Senior Cycle subject specifications are out of step with real world challenges, said the ASTI President. These challenges include the impact of AI and the fact that second-level schools are under-resourced.
The union has also raised issues regarding the rigorousness of subject specification redevelopment processes which has caused considerable disquiet amongst teachers. (See: ASTI calls on Minister to defer revised Leaving Cert science subjects)
“Teachers are passionate about their students and about the subjects they teach. What is taught, how it is taught and the resources available to students and teachers really matter. Teachers will engage positively when they know that students’ learning will benefit and that the proposed changes will work in terms of implementation in the classroom,” said Mr Cremin.
“Ireland is one of 10 countries highlighted in the OECD PISA results* for high levels of equity for students. Teachers in Ireland place a premium value on fairness and equity for their students. These values must be preserved.”
A teacher of Technical Graphics, Engineering and CSPE at Scoil Phobail Luachra, Rathmore, Co. Kerry, Donal will also focus on the need to make second-level teaching a more attractive career for young people during his term as ASTI President.
“Young teachers are voting with their feet and moving abroad or out of teaching for more sustainable careers. Enhancing the attractiveness of second-level teaching means reducing the cost of entry to teaching, providing recently qualified teachers with increased job security, shortening the 25-year salary scale, improving career-path opportunities for classroom teachers, and addressing teacher workload. These are some of my priorities for the coming year.”
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For more information contact Gemma Tuffy, ASTI Communications Official. Tel: 01/6040172; [email protected]
