CHAPTER III
BI-SESSIONALISM
30. We have been charged with making recommendations on the degree of bi-sessionalism that might be considered appropriate in the short and long term in secondary schools in connection with the time. scale in which it would be practical and desirable to implement Govern- ment's policy.
31. We have set out the ultimate objectives in Chapter II. For the interim, we concluded that provision should be made by 1981 for sufficient places for three years of post-primary education, with Govern- ment assistance, for 80% of the 12-14 age-group, with 22% of such places in pre-vocational schools, and for sufficient places for a 5-year course leading to a Certificate of Education for 36% of the 12-16 age- group, with 24% in secondary grammar schools and 12% in secondary technical schools. Considerations which led us to this conclusion follow.
32. It was clear, from the information supplied to us, that it was not possible to achieve the ultimate objectives set out by Government by 1980 through a school building programme alone. We therefore examined what effect on the provision of all types of places would result from the use of the following arrangements in existing and planned schools:
(i) "Floating" classes
The purpose of this arrangement is to provide more classes than there are classrooms in a school in order to achieve additional places and the most economical and effective use of a school's premises. This arrangement already exists in standard Second- ary Technical Schools in that 24 Classes are conducted in a school with 21 classrooms and 13 special rooms and is also used in existing Pre-vocational Schools.
(ii) “Rotation"
This envisages a "6-day working week" for the school buildings, but a "5-day working week in rotation" for the pupils and the teachers.
12