DES Circular 0031/2011 [education.ie]
- Published: 30 May 2011
'Upskilling' plan draws huge response [Independent.ie]
- Published: 28 May 2011
A NEW plan allowing recently unemployed people to go to college to retrain has drawn a huge response.
There were over 8,000 visits to the website set up to process applications for 5,900 college places in the two days after it was launched this week.
Courses leading to qualifications ranging from certificate to master's degree are available under the Higher Education Authority's (HEA) Springboard programme.
The scheme is part of the Government's Jobs Initiative and is targeted at those who were previously working but lost their jobs and who, with some upskilling, could fill current or future job shortages.
Quinn order on qualified teachers [IrishTimes]
- Published: 28 May 2011
SCHOOLS HAVE been instructed to prioritise the hiring of qualified teachers over unqualified and retired teachers from September.
“Extremely limited circumstances” in which schools can employ unqualified teachers were outlined in a circular issued by Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn yesterday.
A school can employ an unqualified teacher only “where a school would have to close or send students home otherwise”, Mr Quinn said in a statement.
The Minister directed all schools to employ “only appropriately qualified registered teachers” and give them priority over unregistered and retired teachers.
Schools will have to keep a list of qualified teachers who are available at short notice for substitute teaching work.
If schools cannot find an unemployed teacher, they can then employ a retired teacher or a teacher qualified in a different sector for a limited period.
Only after these options are exhausted can a school employ an unregistered teacher and for a maximum for five days in a row.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
DES Circular 0034/2011 [education.ie]
- Published: 27 May 2011
Change is needed, says Church leader [educationmatters.ie]
- Published: 27 May 2011
The symposium, held in Mary Immaculate College Limerick, was addressed by Minister for Education & Skills Ruairi Quinn and by Fr Tony Mullins, administrator of the diocese of Limerick pending the appointment of a successor to Bishop Donal Murray.
Fr Mullins said that a spirit of openness must prevail in the management of the debate on the future role of the Catholic Church in primary education.
"We must listen to each other without prejudice," he said, "and respect the views of all stakeholders, especially the so far silent majority whose voice has yet to be heard."
"We live in a changing Ireland - one that is becoming increasingly diverse," he continued.
Diversity must be met with inclusivity and students must come first, regardless of their environment or faith, he said.
"It is important that we recognise that diversity of itself does not deliver inclusivity... it is not diversity in and for itself that we strive for - but inclusivity and mutual respect.
"We can have a diverse society, which excludes some or all beliefs, or we can have a society which respects and embraces all."
Fr Mullins said there is no such thing as a ‘neutral’ school ethos.
Full Story: www.educationmatters.ie
