By Rebecca Crockett
FIVE schools in Donegal will be the first to offer the new Leaving Certificate subject of Drama, Film, and Theatre Studies.
It was announced by Minister for Education Norma Foley that 57 schools had been selected to introduce the subject into their Leaving certificate curriculum. It is part of the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Programme aimed at students who may have previously struggled with traditional subjects.
Schools taking part in the rollout include Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Buncrana; Finn Valley College, Stranorlar; St. Catherine’s Vocational School, Killybegs, Carndonagh Community School and Coláiste Chomcille, Ballyshannon.
In addition, 43 schools have been selected to introduce the Leaving Certificate Climate Action and Sustainable Development. The subject will develop student’s capacity for informed and meaningful action against the climate crisis and also develop their understanding of sustainable development.
Drama, Film and Theatre Studies will promote and encourage creativity as a basis for learning through immersive experiences. Students will have the opportunity to cultivate informed thinking through learning supported by creative and critical processes.
Minister for Education Norma Foley
Minister Foley said: “The applications received demonstrated the extraordinary talent, qualifications, experience, and commitment by teachers in schools across Ireland interested in introducing these two new subjects to their students.”
She added: “The level and variety of current subject provision in the selected schools and the enthusiasm shown by their school leaders, teachers, students and school communities was nothing short of exemplary and I have every confidence that the rollout of both subjects will be a success.”
All selected Phase One schools will be provided with the necessary resources to establish new subject departments in their schools. Teachers will also begin working with Oide, the teacher support service, a year in advance of teaching the subject.
At the launch of the two new subjects, Foley reflected on the opportunities the new programme will provide students with diverse interests: “Many students…do not see themselves reflected in [the] senior cycle experience. They absolutely do not, and we have really, really talented, creative, artistic students, and they’re not reflected.
She continued: “So this is an opportunity not just to reflect the talent and skills and interests of our young people, but to validate them, so that a student who takes drama film and theatre studies or takes climate action and sustainability, that their achievement in education is on a similar par of the student who takes science or languages or whatever. So it’s a very positive step forward.”
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