Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2025
485. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of teachers and school leaders consulted in the development of the revised primary curriculum; the form such consultations took; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51773/25]
View answerIn redeveloping the new primary curriculum, my Department and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) placed a strong emphasis on consultation and collaboration. Wide-ranging engagement was undertaken to ensure that the voices of those most directly involved in education – including children, parents, teachers, school leaders, and a broad range of stakeholders – were central to shaping the new curriculum.
Teachers and school leaders were engaged at multiple stages of the process. Structured opportunities were provided through Curriculum Seminars, which brought together educators from across the country to explore draft proposals and offer detailed feedback. School leaders also participated in a series of dedicated Leading Out seminars, designed to reflect the distinct perspective and responsibility of principals and leadership teams in implementing curriculum change at school level. In addition, Reimagining the Curriculum seminars offered another forum where educators could engage in deeper discussion, considering how a modern curriculum should meet the evolving needs of children and society.
These consultation events were not only informative but also highly participatory, encouraging open dialogue, professional reflection, and the exchange of practical insights from classroom experience. The contributions of teachers and school leaders, alongside those of children, parents, and other stakeholders, have been vital in ensuring that the redeveloped primary curriculum is both ambitious and grounded in the realities of school life.
In addition, the Schools Forum, a network consisting of 60 primary schools, special schools, post-primary schools and preschools from across the country worked together to explore research, bringing their school experiences to discussions. Detailed work on the curriculum specifications was also carried out with 5 separate Schools Networks.
Consultation with parents was also a crucial aspect of the redevelopment process. In-person and online focus groups were held with parents from diverse backgrounds. During the consultation parents/guardians’ questionnaires were conducted in order to gather feedback on the Draft Curriculum Specifications. Parents/guardians were invited to participate in a questionnaire indicating their priorities and expectations for the Primary Curriculum Specifications. The importance of a partnership approach with parents was consistently highlighted across the consultation process.
The NCCA have published a report on the consultation process which can be found here.
