Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee TD, launched the Redeveloped Primary Curriculum Specifications for all primary and special schools across Ireland on 22 September 2025. Members of the Muslim Primary Education Board were in attendance together with other key education stakeholders and partners.
This marks the most comprehensive transformation of primary education in over a generation, designed to equip children with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
Led by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), five new curriculum specifications have been developed through extensive research, consultation and collaboration with education partners and stakeholders to include school leaders, teachers, children, and parents. Building on the strengths of the 1999 curriculum, they respond directly to today’s challenges, changing priorities, and the evolving needs of learners, including Arts Education (Art, Drama, Music), Language (including Modern Foreign Languages from Stage 3), Social and Environmental Education (History and Geography), STEM Education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and Wellbeing (Physical Education and Social Personal and Health Education).
The redeveloped curriculum is designed to support high-quality, inclusive, and evidence-based learning for all children. It recognises the right of every child to thrive and make progress across all areas of learning and development, and it views teachers as skilled professionals who play a central role in children’s learning from early childhood through primary and special education and into post-primary education.
Key features of the new curriculum include:
Children will experience a more connected curriculum that builds key competencies such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication – skills essential for navigating the real world.
Through the Primary Language Curriculum/Curaclam Teanga Na Bunscoile, children will deepen their understanding of English and Irish and begin to develop basic competence in a modern foreign language, laying the foundation for plurilingualism and intercultural understanding.
The curriculum fosters curiosity and innovation, encouraging children to explore, design, and create through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Greater emphasis is placed on active, engaging, and inquiry-led learning, with more opportunities for outdoor education and child-led exploration.
Children will express themselves confidently and creatively such as through Art, Drama, Music, and emerging artforms to include dance and media arts.
Children will learn to see themselves as active citizens with rights and responsibilities, empowered to engage with local and global issues.
A new Wellbeing specification integrates Physical Education and Social, Personal and Health Education equips children with the knowledge and skills needed to lead active, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
Speaking at the launch, Minister McEntee said:
“This new curriculum is designed for the children of today and tomorrow. It reflects the world they are growing up in – one that is fast-changing, interconnected, and full of opportunity. Our goal is to ensure every child in Ireland receives an education that is inclusive, empowering, and deeply relevant to their lives.”
Successful curriculum enactment is a whole-system responsibility that involves every individual in the education community. The enactment of the redeveloped primary curriculum will be a gradual and carefully planned process. This phased approach will allow schools to adapt at a manageable pace, giving teachers the opportunity to familiarise themselves with new teaching methods, pedagogical principles, and curriculum content.
The 2025/2026 school year will be an introductory year focusing on the Primary Curriculum Framework. From the 2026/2027 school year, schools can avail of focused support in one curriculum area each year, with each area taking two years to fully enact. Schools can choose the order of enactment, but the Wellbeing specification must be one of the first three areas selected.
You can find out more about it here.
