The Launch of the Primary Curriculum Framework

On the 9th March 2023 the Minister for Education, Norma Foley T.D., launched the Primary Curriculum Framework at an event in The Printworks in Dublin Castle. The event was attended by teachers, school leaders, children and a range of other educational stakeholders. The publication of the framework marks a significant milestone in the redevelopment of the Primary School Curriculum.

The current curriculum is over 20 years old, and while it has served the primary education system well over the past two decades, much has changed in our world and in our classrooms since the late 1990s. The voices from the consultation on the Draft Primary Curriculum Framework indicated the need for a redeveloped Primary School Curriculum that supports all children, now and as we move further into the 21st century.

The Primary Curriculum Framework is a short document that provides the blueprint for guiding the enhancement of primary and special education for the coming years. This is the first time primary and special schools will have a curriculum framework underpinning learning, teaching and assessment in their schools. The framework outlines the vision and principles for a redeveloped curriculum and introduces a set of seven key competencies for children’s learning. It outlines the five broad curriculum areas for stages 1 and 2 (junior infants to second class), their associated subjects for stages 3 and 4 (third to sixth class) and suggested time allocations. In an effort to strengthen continuity and progression in children’s learning, the framework links with the learning experiences provided through Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework and connects with the Framework for Junior Cycle

As developments progress, new curriculum specifications for the five curriculum areas and their associated subjects will be developed. The curriculum areas are Language (English, Irish and Modern Foreign Languages); Wellbeing (Social, Personal and Health Education, and Physical Education); Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education; Arts Education (Music, Drama and Art) and Social and Environmental Education

(History and Geography). The first specification that will be published following the launch of the framework will be the Primary Mathematics Curriculum. The other specifications will be completed in 2025.

Working towards the vision and principles in this Primary Curriculum Framework brings opportunities, new thinking, and possibilities. However, change on this scale also brings challenges, uncertainty and disruption. The Department of Education is working closely with educational stakeholders to identify practical ways in which schools and their leaders can be supported comprehensively as they become familiar with and begin to use the Primary Curriculum Framework and the new curriculum specifications.

The first step for schools is to familiarise themselves with the Primary Curriculum Framework. To enable schools to do this, the Department of Education has issued a Circular stating that all schools can avail of a half-day closure during the remainder of this school year (2022/2023). A number of resources to assist schools in becoming familiar with the framework during this closure have been published on www.curriculumonline.ie

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