15th October 2004 - Primary Principals Concerned at Second Level Principals' Position on Teaching
Primary Principals concerned at Second Level Principals' position on Testing
Primary Principals are very concerned at the views expressed today by the President of NAPD, representing Second Level Principals, on standardised testing of children in Primary Schools.
For over two years a joint sub-committee of IPPN and NAPD has been working on standardising procedures for the transfer of student data from primary to post-primary schools in a professional and holistic manner which reflects the whole curriculum and not merely literacy and numeracy. Such a complex and student-sensitive issue as transition from first to second-level school deserves greater consideration from school leaders than narrow-focused testing. Primary Principals are deeply committed to the successful implementation of the revised Primary curriculum. Narrow-focused testing threatens the very raison d'etre of such a forward thinking curriculum.
Ends
Further information from:
Virginia O'Mahony, President IPPN
Seán Cottrell, Director IPPN
