Designing Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate syllabi – the need for a new template

In recent years, concerns have been expressed by practising teachers, university academics, professional bodies, Oireachtas committees, and experts in curriculum design about the design and quality of Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate subject syllabi published by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). * The current design template is minimal, comprising little more than a list of topics and learning outcomes. The Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate are nationally assessed by an external body, the State Examinations Commission (SEC), but unlike in similar jurisdictions, which provide comprehensive guidelines linking syllabi with assessment, no such details are provided in Ireland.