It is hoped that the revised exam will:

• Place a strong emphasis on science and computer technology;
• Preserve English and maths as the only compulsory subjects; 
• Give students an opportunity to study Chinese, Japanese, Russian and Spanish in significant numbers;
• Introduce a less bookish business programme, one designed to boost enterprise and reflect what is actually going on in the business world and the economy;
• Make full use of mobile phone, social networking sites and modern communications for teaching and learning;
• Nurture critical appraisal of the arts and the media.

This is a wonderful opportunity for Minister Batt O’Keeffe, before he leaves office, to make a significant mark on Irish education - to go down in history as the man who radically transformed the outdated Junior Cert into a modern state-of-the-art examination.

Ideally, the Minister would like to forge ahead and roll out the new programme in September 2010. However, given the power of the unions and the slow pace of reform in education, it remains to be seen if he will succeed in his objective. (Source: Irish Times)