Even star pupils can sink at second level [Independent.ie]
- Published: 17 September 2009
How parents can stop them from falling through the cracks
Big change: A heavier workload and a new school setting can have a huge impact on young students
They may have thrived in primary school, but they flounder in the more impersonal surroundings of a second-level school. Education authorities are known to be concerned about the uneasy transition by pupils from primary to secondary. Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe recently expressed support for a revamp of the Junior Cert curriculum in order to improve continuity between schools.
He advocates a reduction in the number of subjects (now between 10 and 14) at Junior Cert, and an increased emphasis on practical skills. While most students adapt to their new school, a minority struggle and are in danger of falling through the cracks.
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