§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the teaching of English in the schools of the Province.
§ Mr. HanleyThe teaching of English in schools in Northern Ireland is now based on the programmes of study for English which reflect the best practice in our classrooms. These give appropriate prominence to the teaching of grammar, spelling and writing and promote from the earliest years reading for pleasure and information from a wide variety of texts. The Northern Ireland Curriculum Council has set in place arrangements to monitor the introduction of the new programmes of study and these will be reviewed and updated as necessary in the light of the council's findings.