The Department of Education has laid out the guidelines and aims for the new primary school curriculum.
The curriculum sets out what children should learn in school and, perhaps more importantly, how they can learn it.
The current curriculum is 24 years old and it is felt the time is right for a change.
It is hoped that the new curriculum will build on the successes and strengths of the current curriculum.
The system aims to make connections with what and how children learn in preschool, primary, special, and post-primary schools.
New areas of learning will be included, such as Technology and Engineering, a broader Arts Education and Modern Foreign Languages which will begin when children reach third class.
New suggested time allocations will be be provided for each curriculum area/subject. Teachers will be given more flexibility in deciding how best to use class time.
There will be an emphasis on the importance of play and playfulness in learning for every child from junior infants right through to sixth class.
The new curriculum will include five areas and subjects:
- Language – English, Irish and Modern Foreign Languages from third class.
- STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
- Wellbeing – Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and Physical Education (PE).
- Arts – Drama, Art and Music.
- Social and Environmental – History and Geography.
In addition to the five areas set out above, the Patron’s
Programme forms part of children’s learning experience in
primary and special schools.
The patron, the body that establishes and operates the school, has alegal right under the 1998 Education Act to design and
implement its own programme inaccordance with the ethos of their school.
In the majority of patron’s programmes, the area of religious education is addressed.
A new Primary Language Curriculum for English and Irish is
already being taught since September 2019. A new mathematics curriculum will be introduced to schools in September 2023.
Teachers will have a year to become familiar with it before they start teaching it in class from August/September 2024. Teachers will continue to teach the current mathematics curriculum until that time.
The changes to the other areas and subjects of the curriculum will
be introduced in the school year beginning in August/September
2025.
Parents and guardians continue to play a key role in their child’s
education. The new curriculum promotes a partnership approach
which will encourage increased communication between schools
and parents.
This aims to keep parents informed about your child’s progress in school and the school informed about your child’s
learning at home.
Parents and guardians have had input to the curriculum to date
through public and targeted consultation.
Parents and guardians will continue to have the opportunity
to provide feedback on the draft curriculum areas and subjects
through public consultations in 2024.
SEE ALSO – Portlaoise Businesses invited to event for Portlaoise Energy Master Plan
