Stem subjects to meet skills needs

and, at the other end of the education system, business and industry will offer practical career-related supports to teachers and students, at both second and third level.

Elements of the programme already announced include the roll-out of computer science as a Leaving Cert subject in 2018 and the introduction of the foundations of computer coding in primary schools.

Other measures in the pipeline for second-level students include an awards scheme to recognise pupil participation in informal and extra-curricular Stem activities and events, such as the BT Young Scientist Exhibition.

As well as curricular reforms, schools would be expected to put Stem at the heart of their whole-school planning activities.

Mr Bruton acknowledged that “achieving our goals will require a significant step-up in support to teachers and school leaders and encouragement of innovation in teaching methods”.

Implicit in the plan is that Stem education not only involves the teaching of Stem subjects in isolation but a cross-disciplinary approach and an acceptance that all Stem learning activities are underpinned by maths.

It also recognises the strong linkage between Stem and arts education, and ways to link the two will also be explored through partnerships to promote creativity, universal design and design thinking skills.

The programme will be rolled out in three phases and annual targets have been set for the first such phase, which runs until the end of 2019.

Maths-style bonus points in Leaving Cert science, technology and engineering subjects could also be on the cards, although not for a few years.

In this case, the bonus would only kick in if the students applied for higher education courses in Stem areas.

The idea will be explored, between now and the end of 2019, by the third-level colleges and a Department of Education-led task force that inspired the changes to the Leaving Cert grading and CAO points system this year.

Mr Bruton said that “achieving our goals will require a step-up in support to teachers and school leaders”