Sir, - The transition year in second level schools dates from 1974 and not from six years ago as stated (March 13th) in an otherwise excellent article by Sean Flynn and Emmet Oliver. It was indeed "a radical departure for the education system", the challenge being undertaken by enlightened educators, who appreciated the philosophy which inspired me to introduce it in 1974.
A year later, at an award-giving ceremony for transition year students which I attended, it was already clear that the benefits now underlined by the NCCA report were achievable.
I am particularly pleased that the "transition year significantly improves the Leaving Certificate performance of pupils in disadvantaged schools."
Ireland owes a debt of gratitude to those inspectors and teachers whose dedicated efforts, in the face of considerable scepticism, brought this 1974 policy initiative to fruition. - Yours, etc.,
Dick Burke, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
Sean Flynn writes: The transition year was introduced on a pilot basis in three schools in 1974. Department of Education guidelines for its wider use were circulated to schools in 1994.