Equally, entry points for discussing issues with a global perspective are present in all senior
cycle subjects as well as within the Leaving Certificate Applied Social Issues-Contemporary
Issues Task. These curriculum opportunities are explored in an NCCA (2007) publication
entitled A Study of the Opportunities for Development Education at Senior Cycle.
It is hoped that the future implementation of the junior cycle framework developed by the
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) will overcome the challenges
associated with the current overloaded junior cycle curriculum. The introduction of six
key skills (managing myself, staying well, communicating, being creative, working with
others, and, managing information and thinking) and statements of learning (for example:
values what it means to be an active citizen with rights and responsibilities in local and
wider contexts etc.) to be achieved by all junior cycle students and the potential for schools
to develop taster modules and short courses addressing global issues may facilitate more
entry points for DE at junior cycle level.
Additional developments initiated by the NCCA such as the focus on key skills at senior
cycle and the possible future introduction of a new, optional subject entitled Politics and
Society offer further opportunities for integration of a DE perspective.
As with the primary sector, initiatives at post primary initial teacher education also aim
to equip student teachers to address the issues central to DE as they arise in their chosen
subject areas. The Ubuntu Network publication, Teaching Global Perspectives, presents
a range of pedagogies and approaches suitable for post primary subject areas.