Minister Quinn attends opening of new Educate Together school in Tullamore [education.ie]
- Published: 13 May 2011
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD, today attended the official opening of Tullamore Educate Together, Co Offaly.
The school, which was completed in 2008, has 150 pupils and a staff of 12.
Speaking at the school today, Minister Quinn said he was delighted to share the speech making with Paul Rowe from Educate Together who performed the official opening.
"Paul and his team have done and continue to do terrific work in developing, disseminating and supporting Educate Together schools all over the country.
"Diversity of school patronage is something I am very committed to and I am currently working closely with church bodies, Educate Together, the VECs, and other groups as well, to achieve greater diversity in a well-planned way.
"I am heartened to note that this school caters for a large number of pupils from very different backgrounds, including newcomer students especially those who have come from Eastern Europe.
"Tullamore has also a large Irish Traveller population and I am glad that this school already plays its part in their continued successful integration in mainstream schools.
"The investment in new and re-furbished schools should always be money well spent.
Full Story: www.education.ie
Children miss school due to financial crisis [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 13 May 2011
FINANCIAL difficulties are leading to children missing school on a regular basis, according to staff working with families to address poor attendance.
The National Educational Welfare Board has seen direct evidence of the recession’s impact, with problems in households as much a cause of absenteeism as parents simply neglecting to send children to school.
Michael Doyle, who is the board’s manager overseeing more than 900 schools in Leinster North and parts of Dublin, gives a recent example of a second level student his staff were involved with who was often missing school two days a week.
"She was being taunted by her peers because of her unkempt appearance and her uniform wasn’t washed as regularly as it should be. When we eventually gained access to the family home, we discovered they had no electricity," he explained.
"We approached the school’s pastoral care team and the St Vincent de Paul and were able to address the issue of non-payment of the electricity. Because the voice of the child was heard, there was an instant improvement in attendance."
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
Minister Quinn welcomes publication of Report on Retention Rates [merrionstreet.ie]
- Published: 13 May 2011
Highest ever number of students are completing second level
The number of students staying in school to complete their second level education is now at its highest rate ever.
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD, has today (Fri 13th of May) welcomed the publication of the “Report on Retention Rates of Pupils in Second Level Schools” conducted by the Department.
It shows that the number of young men staying in secondary school has risen dramatically by 11.7% in 8 years.
The percentage of students who sit the Leaving Cert overall has risen by more than 6% to 87.7% in the same time period.
The report, published on the Department’s website, presents the retention rates of pupils who entered the first year of the junior cycle in the years from 1991 to 2004 and completed second level schooling no later than 2010.
Commenting on the report, Minister Quinn said: “I am particularly pleased to see the high number of young men who are now completing their Leaving Cert exams. This is a very welcome development.”
Full Story: www.merrionstreet.ie
WIT board refuses to extend term of president [IrishTimes]
- Published: 13 May 2011
THE BOARD of Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) has refused to extend the term of its president Prof Kieran Byrne, amid growing controversy about expenses claimed by his office.
The move came after interventions from Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn and chief executive of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Tom Boland. While neither can intervene directly in the appointments process, both signalled that Prof Byrne’s position had become untenable.
Yesterday’s unanimous decision by the board could be legally challenged by Prof Byrne whose 10- year term as president expires today. Earlier this year, he was nominated by a selection committee for a further term of office but the board refused to confirm the appointment at its meeting yesterday.
The €156,000-per-year post as president will be re-advertised and an interim president appointed.
In recent days, pressure has been exerted on Prof Byrne to withdraw his application for an extension after the revelations about the expenses incurred by his office. Sources say senior education figures asked him to reflect on his position at personal meetings and in phone conversations this week, but he refused to step down.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
College head loses bid to keep job in wake of expenses row [Independent.ie]
- Published: 13 May 2011
Professor Kieran Byrne has failed in his bid for re-appointment as president of Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) in the wake of revelations over high spending by his office.
It included the use of taxis for 200-mile (322km) round trips between Waterford and Dublin as well as hospitality expenses amounting to €290,000 over seven years.
It is a dramatic turnabout in fortunes for Prof Byrne, who has been WIT president for 10 years and championed the college's case for university status.
Up to yesterday, Prof Byrne was the sole nominee for the post, which had been publicly advertised. He was recommended by a sub committee set up as part of the selection process.
Controversy
However, Prof Byrne's road to re-appointment became mired in controversy as questions were asked about spending authorised by his office between 2004 and 2011.
The Waterford Colleges branch of the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) had submitted a Freedom of Information request to establish that funding was being diverted to priority areas.
The detailed spending breakdown was provided to the TUI last Friday.
Yesterday, the day before the information was released to the TUI, the governing body postponed a decision on Prof Byrne's re-appointment and called in the accountancy firm Deloitte to review budgetary spending procedures.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
