Axing Guidance Counsellors Would Have Serious Consequences [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 02 December 2011
Axing Guidance Counsellors Would Have Serious Consequences for Young People’s Job Prospects, Lives . Responding to a report that the Government may cut the number of Career Guidance Counsellors in second-level schools, ASTI General Secretary Pat King today said:
“It is unthinkable that at a time of high unemployment and when the Government is publicly stating that its number one priority is jobs, an education service which is designed to help young people secure sustainable jobs and careers would be targeted.”
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
'One in four' three-year-olds overweight [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 02 December 2011
The latest findings from the Growing Up in Ireland study focusing on kids' health have revealed one in four three-year-olds in the country is overweight.
This includes six per cent of youngsters who are classified as obese, the study found, while it also noted those growing up in the most disadvantaged households are more likely to suffer from this problem.
However, overall wellbeing was found to be good, with 75 per cent of children described as very healthy and a further 23 per cent healthy, although boys were more likely than girls to have problems.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Minister Cannon disappointed at EU decision not to extend the period of the EGF crisis-related derogation [education.ie]
- Published: 02 December 2011
The Minister of State for Training and Skills, Ciarán Cannon TD, has expressed his disappointment at the EU decision not to extend the European Globalisation Fund (EGF) crisis-related derogation, which has been of such benefit to Irish workers recently made redundant.
Speaking at the end of the EU Employment Council in Brussels yesterday the Minister said, "I presented a strong case for extending the crisis-related derogation. I explained to my EU colleagues that we should demonstrate solidarity with workers whose futures are threatened by redundancy.
"While a number of other European member states agreed with me, I was disappointed that there was not sufficient support, and the crisis-related derogation must now lapse at the end of the year.
"The EGF will continue for another two years and I would hope that we can benefit from that fund to assist Irish workers made redundant as a result of globalisation. The proposed application for EGF support for Talk Talk workers will be pursued and it is intended that this application will be made to the European Commission despite this development".
This funding has helped 13,000 redundant workers and came from six successful applications under the crisis-related derogation since it was set up, by Dell, Waterford Crystal, SR Technics and, most recently, three applications from the construction sector.
Full Story: www.education.ie
Education cuts 'could harm key subjects' [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 01 December 2011
Proposed cuts to the education system could result in many schools cutting back on key subject areas due to a lack of available teaching resources.
This is according to general secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland Pat King, who warned an increase in the pupil-teacher ratio would lead to some classes being dropped.
He said this could severely affect optional subjects including physics, chemistry or German, while schools may be forced to merge honours and ordinary classes in areas such as maths.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Gifts for the teacher [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 30 November 2011
Somehow or other, December is upon us and as the Christmas lights start to flicker and flash in streets and houses across the country, my thoughts turn, once again, to Christmas gifts for teachers.
I had a conversation with a teacher about this at the end of the last school year, proudly telling her all about the lovely homemade bouquets of tissue-paper flowers which my children had taken in for their teachers and the homemade biscuits they’d painstakingly decorated at Christmas. She laughed and told me how funny it is that parents think the teachers will prefer a cute little homemade gift, but actually, all they really want is a nice bottle of wine or anything in a Brown Thomas bag.
I left the conversation feeling more than a little disheartened.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
