“I’ve put more than one child through the Junior Cert and I have one more waiting in the wings. I must admit that I am following the reform process with trepidation …” (more)
[Irish Times, 21 February]
“Students have given their input on the new reformed Junior Cycle, and their thoughts have been welcomed by Ruairi Quinn, TD, Minister for Education and Skills …” (more)
[TheJournal.ie, 29 December]
[The new report is here]
“The new system will start in 2014 and will prioritise learning and creativity over spoonfeeding. Here’s how it will work. Q What’s wrong with the old Junior Cert and why the rush to change it? …” (more)
[Louise Holden, Irish Times, 15 November]
“As Senators know, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, was asked to undertake a review of the junior cycle curriculum in schools, to examine how creativity and innovation might be strengthened and curriculum overload and rote learning addressed …” (more)
[Seanad Éireann, 8 November]
“Stressing the need for reform of the Junior Cert, Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn said that unless the exam changed, nothing else would …” (more)
[Jimmy Walsh, Irish Times, 9 November]
Reaction to Junior Cert reform Six key skills – Managing Myself, Staying Well, Communications, Being Creative, Working with Others, and Managing Information and Thinking – will be part of subjects. Please say this is a joke …” (more)
[Irish Times, 8 November]
“Guests on the programme this week included Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, and CEO of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, Dr Anne Looney. They were interviewed at the launch of the plan for reforming the post-primary junior cycle programme. Minister Quinn’s address to the NCCA can be read here.” (mp3)
[Inside Education on 103.2 Dublin City FM, 6 November]
“Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has backed plans to abolish the existing Junior Certificate and replace it with what is billed as a radically changed junior cycle …” (more)
[Genevieve Carbery, Irish Times, 4 November]
“Fianna Fáil has again pledged its support for radical reform of the Junior Certificate and has welcomed the moves by this Government to continue with the reform process started by Fianna Fáil in Government. Reacting to the report from the National Council for Curriculum Reform (NCCA), Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Education & Skills Brendan Smith said …” (more)
[Averil Power, Fianna Fáil, 3 November]
“There has been mixed reaction from teachers’ unions and the business sector on proposals to reform the Junior Certificate cycle at second level. The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland said the plans must be made ‘fail-proof’ before they were introduced …” (more)
[Irish Times, 3 November]
“Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn has approved plans to abolish the Junior Certificate and replaced it with a radical new programme. The new system, which will be introduced in schools from 2014, will see a much greater emphasis on continuous assessment …” (more)
[RTÉ News, 3 November]
“Ruairí Quinn’s decision to drop his plans for an eight-subject Junior Cert next year represents a setback for the Minister and his ambitious reform programme. The question now is will there be more U-turns? …” (more)
[Irish Times, 1 November]
“… Response to the TUI’s assertion that Junior Cert reform plans would do more damage than good ‘Some people are just allergic to change … I don’t see any helpful alternatives put forward by the teachers! Just moaning – eimsley, thejournal.ie’ …” (more)
[Irish Times, 25 October]
“A proposal to limit the number of Junior Certificate subjects students sit exams in to eight will be put in place in 2014, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has said. Mr Quinn announced yesterday that the reduced number of subjects students sit will apply to those pupils who first enter secondary school in 2014 …” (more)
[Pamela Duncan, Irish Times, 21 October]
“The introduction of an eight-subject limit to the Junior Certificate is to be put back for two years following concerns by teachers and parents, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn told second-level principals yesterday …” (more)
[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 21 October]
“TUI this afternoon welcomed Minister Quinn’s decision to delay the rollout of the limit of eight subject areas for Junior Certificate examination until 2014. Speaking this afternoon, TUI General Secretary Peter MacMenamin said …” (more)
[Teachers' Union of Ireland, 20 October]
“A teachers’ union has warned that proposals to reform the Junior Certificate exam structure could result in major damage to the Irish education system …” (more)
[TheJournal.ie, 18 October]
“The internet and email could make it easier to send students’ work to other schools for marking, easing teacher concerns about assessing their own pupils, said Education Minister Ruairi Quinn …” (more)
[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 4 October]
“Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn wants the Junior Certificate reformed – quickly. He wants to cut the number of subjects to eight, and he wants to have 50 per cent of the final marks determined by continuous assessment. Are there merits in these proposals? …” (more)
[Barry Hazel, Irish Times, 27 September]
“Teacher group leaders have said they oppose members marking their own students as part of the new Junior Certificate testing — even though hundreds are already doing so …” (more)
[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 27 September]
