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Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan launched Phase 1 of the implementation of a new Leaving Certificate subject, Politics and Society today.

The Minister said:

I am absolutely delighted to see Politics and Society launching onto the Irish education scene during my tenure as Minister for Education and Skills. For a long time now, I have viewed this subject as one with the potential to have a significant impact on our students in senior cycle, and it is thrilling for all of us here, I am sure, to see this day arrive.

A total of 115 schools expressed interest, which is phenomenal for a new subject. The Minister said she was delighted that her Department had been able to offer places to so many schools for this first phase, and that all other interested schools will be accommodated from 2018.

The Minister concluded: 

I am convinced that this new subject will inspire a generation of new social and political activists in Ireland, and I look forward immensely to seeing the positive impact these students will have on society hereafter.

For the students taking this new subject from September 2016, Politics and Society will be a full Leaving Certificate examination subject in 2018, at higher and ordinary levels.

Read the full press release here.