Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
217. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide funding for pilot schemes in primary and secondary schools which focus on the development of real-world critical thinking skills and problem solving; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11044/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraReal-world critical thinking and problem-solving skills are already central to the primary and post-primary curricula, where learners are encouraged to apply knowledge in authentic contexts, analyse information, evaluate evidence, and develop solutions to practical challenges. Across curriculum frameworks and subject specifications, there is a strong emphasis on inquiry-based learning, STEM education, digital literacy, and project work, all of which are designed to build these competencies in a structured and progressive way.
At Primary level:
• The Primary Language Curriculum promotes digital literacy, supporting children to locate, evaluate and interpret information across text, visual and audio formats.
• The Primary Curriculum Framework identifies being a digital learner as one of seven key competencies, fostering curiosity, creativity and responsible technology use.
• The Primary Mathematics Curriculum encourages computational thinking, problem-solving and creative application of mathematical knowledge.
• The STEM Education Curriculum supports inquiry, design thinking and computational thinking.
• The Wellbeing Curriculum includes outcomes focused on Media and Digital Wellbeing, supporting safe and ethical use of technology and understanding media influence.
At Post-Primary level:
• The Framework for Junior Cycle embeds digital skills across all key skills and subjects, with a strong focus on responsible and ethical technology use.
• Short Courses in Digital Media Literacy and Coding explicitly develop students’ ability to analyse digital content, counter misinformation, and build computational thinking. Specifically in the updated Coding Short Course, students are tasked with learning: how to identify different AI models; about the potential advantages of using AI models, and; about the safe and ethical use of AI in coding.
• Junior Cycle English incorporates critical analysis of media texts and social media communication.
• Leaving Certificate Computer Science provides students with deep understanding of computing, algorithms, and the social impact of digital technologies.
• Across subjects such as History, English, SPHE and CSPE, students explore the role of digital media in society and learn to critically evaluate information.
Digital skills and literacy are also supported through:
Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024–2033:• Identifies digital literacy as a core learner skill and prioritises critical thinking, problem-solving and digital skills to help students recognise and respond to misinformation, disinformation and AI-generated content.
STEM Education Policy Statement 2017–2026:• Promotes curiosity, creativity, ethical awareness and problem-solving to prepare learners for an increasingly digital and AI-enabled world.
Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027:• Supports all learners in using digital technologies through curriculum-aligned practice and Oide-led teacher professional learning that builds students’ digital skills and understanding.
There are already a number of Department-funded pilot projects being delivered through Oide that focus on developing learners’ real-world critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These include
• BRICS (Primary), a collaborative STEM initiative with DCU, Athlone Education Centre and TUS that uses engineering design challenges and programmable robotics to build pupils’ critical thinking, problem-solving and computational skills through hands-on learning.
• Digital Citizenship Champions (Primary), delivered with Webwise, which supports teachers to embed digital citizenship across the curriculum and develop pupils’ critical thinking, ethical online behaviour and media literacy through a whole-school approach. These pilots help inform future practice by testing scalable, curriculum-aligned approaches in schools.
