JCPE - Junior Cycle Physical Education Support Service

THE JUNIOR CERTIFICATE

Aims and Principles

1. The general aim of education is to contribute towards the development of all aspects of the individual, including aesthetic, creative, critical, cultural, emotional, intellectual, moral, physical, political, social and spiritual development, for personal and family life, for working life, for living in community and for leisure.

2. The Junior Certificate Programme is designed to meet the needs of all students in second-level education. Arising from this, every subject is offered at two levels, ordinary and higher. In the case of English, Irish and Mathematics a foundation level is also available.

3. The Junior Certificate Programme aims to

• reinforce and further develop in the young person the knowledge, understanding, skills and competencies acquired at primary level;
• extend and deepen the range and quality of the young person's educational experiences in terms of knowledge, understanding, skills and competencies;
• develop the young person's personal and social confidence, initiative and competence through a broad, well-balanced general education;
• prepare the young person for the requirements of further programmes of study, of employment or of life outside full-time education;
• contribute to the moral and spiritual development of the young person and to develop a tolerance and respect for the values and beliefs of others;
• prepare the young person for the responsibilities of citizenship in the national context and in the context of the wider European and global communities.

4. The Junior Certificate Programme is based on the following principles:

 Breadth and balance

At this stage of their school careers, all students should have a wide range of educational experiences. Particular attention must be given to reinforcing and developing the skills of numeracy, literacy and oracy. Particular emphasis

should be given to social and environmental education, science and technology and modern languages.

Relevance

Curriculum provision should address the immediate and prospective needs of the young person, in the context of the cultural, economic and social environment.

Quality

Every young person should be challenged to achieve the highest possible standards of excellence, with due regard to different aptitudes and abilities and to international comparisons.

5. Each Junior Certificate Syllabus is presented for implementation within the general curriculum context outlined above.