Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn has unveiled a new strategy for the country's education system that is designed to boost the literacy and numeracy skills of Irish children.

As a key part of the government's programme, it has set out ambitious targets to be achieved by 2020, including increasing the number of primary school pupils performing at the highest level by five percentage points and halving the numbers achieving only the lowest level.

One part of the proposals will see the number of subjects taken by Junior Certificate students limited to eight, including English, Irish and maths.

This will allow more time to be allocated to key literacy and numeracy skills and for more in-depth learning across the subjects.

Mr Quinn added: "We know that there is currently much room for improvement and this strategy sets out the road map with concrete targets and reforms that will ensure our children, from early childhood to the end of second level, master these key skills."

Recently, it was revealed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development that Ireland has performed well in literacy exams administered via computer, but still lags behind other nations in pen and paper-based tests.

Written by Donal Walsh
 

Comments