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Developing your talents and abilities
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What does this mean?
This right is about the type of education you should get.
It’s your right that your education is balanced – it is not only about academic subjects like maths and writing, it is also about drama, sports and music and learning to respect the environment and each other.
The new Junior Cycle allows students more variety in what they learn through short courses.
EXAMPLE: In transition year, you usually try lots of different activities like drama, debating, learning a new language or self-defence.
Learn more about this right
Do I have this right in Ireland?
- Article 29 of the UNCRC says that “your education should help you use and develop your talents and abilities. It should also help you learn to live peacefully, protect the environment and respect other people.”
- Under the Education Act 1998, the National Council for Curriculum Assessment (NCCA) was established. The NCCA write the exams for the subjects you do in schools and they try to make it as inclusive and diverse as possible.
- The aims of education in Ireland are not written in law. The Department of Education in Ireland have a holistic view of learning in schools – this means learning should be balanced and centred around the child as a learner.
- Wellbeing in schools is important for the Government. It emphasises the need for children and young people to develop a broad range of skills, competencies and values that enable active citizenship, lifelong learning and personal wellbeing
Doing a project?
- In Ireland, the rules that guide our laws (the constitution), says that your education is firstly your parent’s responsibility. They should teach you what is right and wrong.
- The Irish primary education system aims to provide a holistic education to enable children to live their lives to the full and to realise their potential as unique individuals.
- The new Junior Cycle allows students more variety in what they learn through short courses.
- In many secondary schools, fourth year is called Transition Year. In this year you get to develop your talents and abilities and in some schools, try things like self-defence, first aid, work experience and drama.
- Wellbeing in schools is a priority for the Government at the moment. It hopes that the promotion of wellbeing will be at the core of the ethos of every school and centre for education.
- An organisation called the National Council for Curriculum Assessment (NCCA) is in charge of writing and creating the content for the subjects that you should learn in school. They try to make education in Ireland better and more inclusive for all learners.
Links to other organisations
- Scouting Ireland: Learning by doing and being outside are part of the Scout method
- NYCI Youth Arts: National Youth Council of Ireland promotes and develops young people’s involvement in the Arts
- National Youth Orchestra: Inspiring young musicians by giving them opportunities to engage with professional musicians
- Sporting Ireland: is an umbrella organisation for promoting and developing different sports in Ireland
- GAA Youth: the GAA run a programme called Youth Forum to encourage the voice of young people in the running of the GAA
