Speaking following an Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education discussion on proposals to reform the Junior Certificate, and in particular enterprise education, I have stated that equal emphasis should be placed on approaches which emphasise a student's personal development.
Educating students in enterprise and innovation is extremely important to allow them compete in the employment market of tomorrow. Of equal importance, is developing personal skills that encourage creativity and self-expression, while also complementing education in other subjects.
As part of the reform proposals for the Junior Certificate there are proposals to develop short courses in subjects such as the arts and technology. This is a very welcome development and an opportunity for change as it affords the opportunity to broaden a student's educational experience.
A delegation from Dáil na nÓg made the point in today's committee, that there is great interest amongst students in a revised Junior Certificate that focuses on sports, arts-based activities and life skills.
Encouraging enterprise education, to meet the needs of our economy, is rightly considered a priority of the Junior Certificate reforms. It is important however, not to consider initiatives to expose students to new avenues of education as merely add-ons.
These reforms should be considered fundamental to students' educational experience by stimulating creativity, improving their self-esteem and preparing them for the jobs of the future.
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