It’s not the winning; it’s the taking part [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 31 May 2011
If I had a euro for the number of times this phrase was mentioned to me as I grew up, I would be a very rich woman by now!
As a child, it took me a while to figure out what this actually meant – it’s not the winning? But, I thought it was. I thought that was why we were racing down lanes in potato sacks and balancing hard-boiled eggs on spoons, to see who could be the first to cross the finish line?
I think it was when I wasn’t the first to cross the finish line (or the second or the third), that I finally understood what this meant. Ahh, it was just about having fun, the crossing the line first bit didn’t really matter at all (I was still a little sceptical though).
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Educate Together recognised as second-level patron [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 31 May 2011
School group Educate Together has been formally recognised by the Education Minister as a second-level patron, which gives it the green light to develop new secondary schools in Ireland.
Ruairi Quinn confirmed that the organisation has met all the government's requirements to operate as a patron of secondary schools and praised the group for its work with its existing primary education facilities.
"You have shown great leadership in creating and sustaining a national network of primary schools," he told the group's annual general meeting, adding that he has long been a supporter of the organisation's involvement at this level.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Figures just don't add up for Ruairi Quinn [Independent.ie]
- Published: 31 May 2011
THE spectacle of governments breaking their election promises often tends to induce a degree of malicious pleasure in the onlookers.
But in the case of Ruairi Quinn, from whom much has been expected and much is still expected, it is simply sad. How could a man of the new Education Minister's intelligence and experience have persuaded himself that he could run his department without fresh impositions on students and their parents?
The only possible answer is the euphoria that affects politicians during election campaigns. The euphoria always dissipates quickly; this time, more quickly than usual. In an important speech yesterday, Mr Quinn admitted that, contrary to a campaign promise, he has to raise the student registration fee by €500, to €2,000.
He left open a larger issue, the return of tuition fees. But the signs are gloomy. In England, universities are to charge tuition fees ranging from £6,000 to £9,000. It is thought that most will set them at the top figure. Half of that could deny a third-level education to many from low-income Irish families.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Students will pay €500 more after fees U-turn [Independent.ie]
- Published: 31 May 2011
EDUCATION Minister Ruairi Quinn performed a U-turn on a key election promise last night by admitting he wouldn't reverse a €500 hike in college registration fees.
And the minister refused to rule out the introduction of third-level fees and further student charges -- another pre-election pledge.
The Labour Party minister admitted the student registration charge will rise to €2,000 per student in September -- despite promising before the general election that he would not support the €500 increase.
Mr Quinn refused to be drawn on whether there would be a re-introduction of fees to offset a funding crisis in the third-level sector.
The Government is now expected to make a decision on that by the end of the year.
If fees, loans or new charges are brought in, they would kick in from the September 2012 academic year.
The issue is set to be another bone of contention between the coalition partners.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Mayo school to replace schoolbooks with iPads [SiliconRepublic.com]
- Published: 31 May 2011
A secondary school in Mayo is giving first-year students the option of using an iPad for schoolwork instead of traditional schoolbooks.
According to The Irish Times, St Coleman’s College in Claremorris, Co Mayo, will start bringing iPads into use from this September. All 90 new first-year students will be given the choice to use the tablet for work instead of carrying schoolbooks.
Full Story: www.siliconrepublic.com
