ASTI - Ireland's main second level teachers union

Have your say on junior cycle reform

ASTI to hold regional meetings on junior cycle changes

The ASTI is hosting a series of regional meetings for members on the proposed changes to the junior cycle curriculum. These meetings will provide an important feedback mechanism for the ASTI, which continues to be in discussions with the Department about core aspects of the proposed changes, including changes in examination and assessment. The seminars are open to all ASTI members. For more information contact Eileen at asti.library(at)asti.ie , Tel: 01-6040170.

Towards a Framework for Junior Cycle has been published by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and is due for implementation in 2014. While there is wide acceptance of the need to reform the current Junior Cycle programme, the ASTI has a raised a number of serious concerns in relation to the NCCA’s proposals.

ASTI’s key concerns   

Resources
In the context of years of underfunding of schools, recent severe cuts in teacher allocation and supports for students and schools, the ASTI has no confidence that the necessary resources will be provided to successfully implement a new Junior Cycle.

Lack of clarity and engagement
The schools and teachers implementing Junior Cycle reform need full information on exactly what is going to happen, when and how. There is an urgent need for extensive engagement between individual school staffs, the NCCA and the Department of Education and Skills in relation to the logistics of implementation of the new Junior Cycle.

Equity
It is essential that all schools are in a position to implement reform on an equal basis. As it stands, without a budgetary plan, the proposal for short courses contained in Towards A Framework will lead to inequality of opportunity amongst students.

Assessment
There is a lack of clarity in relation to “school based assessment”. The ASTI is adamant that any move that places teachers in the role of judge rather than advocate of the student will distort the existing professional relationship between teachers, students and parents and will therefore damage students’ experience of second-level education.

Read the ASTI Press Release, Junior Cycle reform plans must not fail students.

Review timeline

• The current Junior Cycle was introduced in 1989.
• In 2009 the then Minister for Education and Science Batt O’Keefe requested that the NCCA undertake a review of the Junior Cycle with a view to reforming it.
• In April 2010, the NCCA began a public consultation on the Junior Cycle. As part of this consultation, the ASTI conducted focus group meetings with members and made a formal submission to the NCCA.
• In spring 2011 proposals were presented to the Council of the NCCA. The ASTI, which holds two of the 25 seats on the NCCA Council, stated that it had serious concerns with the proposals. While some amendments were made following the ASTI’s objections (for example, a proposal that there be no final external written for Junior Cycle students was dropped), the unions key concerns remain.
• The vast majority of NCCA Council members expressed the view that the NCCA proposals should be forwarded to the Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn for his consideration.
• On September 25^th 2011 the NCCA proposals were presented to the Minister. The ASTI wrote to the Minister expressing its concerns.
• On November 3^rd the Minister endorsed the NCCA’s document Towards A Framework for Junior Cycle. The Minister stated that that “there is a considerable level of detail which can only be worked out in dialogue between my Department officials and the partners in education”.
• The ASTI issued a strong statement again highlighting its concerns and the need for urgent “dialogue” with all school staffs.  

Towards a Framework for Junior Cycle – key reforms

The key reforms included in the framework for Junior Cycle are:

• A new National Certificate of Junior Cycle Education will be introduced for first year students in 2014.
• The Certificate requires that students present evidence of learning in eight subjects or seven subjects and two short courses or six subjects and four shorts
• Evidence of learning in English and Maths is compulsory and in Irish, unless the student has an exemption
• For subjects, and external final exam will account for 60% of the Certification grade
• A portfolio component of subjects will account for 40% of the Certification grade.
• The portfolio component involves school-based assessment and external moderation by the State Exams Commission
• Grading of short courses will be school-based and will also include an external moderation process
• Subject tuition time will be reduced to 200 hours, except for English, Irish and maths which will be 240 hours
• Six key skills will be imbedded
• Students will cover 24 “learning statements” in areas such as communications, citizenship, and critical thinking.

Read the full NCCA document Towards a Framework for Junior Cycle.