IPPN

Published: 17 May 2011

A profile of those in the Northern Executive

CARÁL NÍ CHUILÍN (SF)

Dept of Culture, Arts and Leisure

The North Belfast MLA’s profile rose steadily as Sinn Féin chief whip and spokeswoman on social development. The former IRA prisoner, a highly regarded Belfast republican, will head Sinn Féin’s drive for an Irish Language Act after years of unionist opposition. She will be to the fore in planning for centenaries of the Somme, the Ulster Covenant and Easter Rising.

JONATHAN BELL (DUP)

Junior Minister

Bell came to prominence when co-opted to the Assembly in the Strangford constituency following the resignation of Iris Robinson. He won his own mandate in the May 5th election and is rewarded with the junior minister’s position at the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister. A former social worker who first stood for election for the Ulster Unionists.

MICHELLE O’NEILL (SF)

Dept of Agriculture and Rural Development

Replaces Michelle Gildernew, who generally had a good working relationship with farmers and ran a controversy-free department. So, a hard act to follow but Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness are confident this Mid-Ulster MLA and former mayor of Dungannon and South Tyrone has the capability to head the agriculture department.

Full Story: www.irishtimes.com

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Published: 17 May 2011

TAKING a carrot rather than a stick approach to behaviour is vital in reducing some students’ risks of leaving school early, says one of the country’s leading education experts.

Department of Education statistics last week showed that the number of young people staying at school until Leaving Certificate has reached an all-time high, with just 14.5% of those who started first year in 2004 not completing their formal education, or 12.3% when factors like migration, death and students moving to schools not funded by the state are added.

The report pointed to the declining labour market as a significant factor but Education Minister Ruairi Quinn praised the role of teachers in catering for those at most risk of dropping out, particularly boys.

However, Dr Emer Smyth of the ESRI warned last week that cuts to school funding are disproportionately affecting those at risk of leaving school early. But while such measures put the progress on reversing school dropout rates at risk, she says the environment created by schools is also vital.

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Published: 17 May 2011

A total of 44 school inspection-reports were published today on the Department of Education and Skills' website. New inspection reports on the web today comprise:

• 5 whole-school evaluations (WSEs) at primary level
• 3 whole-school evaluation (WSEs) at post-primary level, including 10 subject inspections
• 6 stand-alone subject inspections

Since 6th February 2006, school inspection reports such as WSE and subject inspections are published on the Department of Education and Skills' website at regular intervals throughout the school year.

There are now 4,580 school-inspection reports on the website, representative of 1,846 schools or centres for education.

WSE reports comment on the school's management, planning and management of resources, the effectiveness of teaching and learning, its arrangements for student assessment, supports for students, provision for minority groups and home-school links.

Depending on the size of the school, an inspector or team of inspectors visit the school for a period of time to evaluate management and planning; teaching and learning and supports for pupils.

Following this evaluation phase of WSE, inspectors discuss the findings and recommendations with school management and members of the teaching staff.

This is followed by factual verification of the report and a timescale is also built into the process for the school to respond to the WSE report. At the end of this process the WSE report including an appendix with the school's response (if the school has made a response) is published on the Department's website.

Full Story: www.education.ie

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Published: 17 May 2011

The Government is threatening to undermine Co Mayo’s gaelscoileanna by preventing the establishment of Irish-speaking schools, and proposing to create of ‘Irish units’ in English-speaking schools. That is the view of Irish-language author and school teacher Colmán Ó Raghallaigh, who spoke to The Mayo News last week.
A number of gaelscoileanna in Co Mayo are demanding talks with Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn over the controversial new proposals for Irish-speaking schools. Claremorris native O Raghallaigh says these latest proposals provide evidence that there is an “open hostility” towards gaelscoileanna.

The proposals are contained in a new report produced for the Department of Education by the Commission of School Accommodation. In the report, it is stated that the minority position of all-Irish education will not be protected when schools are approved in the future. Another proposal controversially cites the possible creation of all-Irish units within English speaking schools.

The report was commissioned after concerns were made about the population growth in Irish schools, which is predicted to rise by more than 60,000 over the next seven years. Present legislation means that a new primary school can be established once it has at least 17 students. However, new proposals will significantly increase this figure, and incorporate three streams for each year.

With reference to the idea of the specially designated ‘Irish units’ in English-speaking schools, Ó Raghallaigh says children in those units would feel compelled to speak English if the majority of the children in the school were doing so. He said the idea ‘would do more harm than good’, adding: “Irish units in English-speaking schools is a non-runner because all best linguistic practice shows that minority languages cannot thrive in such an environment.”

Full Story: www.mayonews.ie

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