Number sitting Leaving Cert rises [IrishTimes]
- Published: 13 May 2011
The number of students staying in school to complete their second level education has risen dramatically and is now at its highest rate on record, according to a new report.
The Department of Education study found the percentage of second level students who sit the Leaving Cert had risen by more than 6 per cent to 87.7 per cent.
The report, published on the department's website today, assessed 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.
It showed that the number of young men remaining in secondary school had risen by 11.7 per cent to 82.4 per cent in eight years. Despite the rise, there was still a gap between the sexes 86.5 per cent of females completing second level.
Welcoming the findings, Minister for Education Ruairí 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”.
However, he acknowledged the figures may, at least in part, reflect the downturn in the labour market.
But he suggested measures taken by the department such as the extra resources for school completion programmes were also likely to have improved retention rates.
The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) described the findings as a "morale boost" for the Irish education system.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
iScoil helps disengaged students return to education [siliconrepublic.com]
- Published: 13 May 2011
The Presentation Sisters have established Ireland’s first online school, iScoil, for students who are disengaged from the traditional education system.
iScoil is aimed at students aged from 13 to 16 who have not attended school for at least six months and have had other interventions which did not work. It currently has 50 learners located in Dublin, the East Coast, Limerick, Galway and Longford.
Michael Hallissy, director of learning at the Digital Hub in Dublin and a founding partner with H2 Learning, said that the model was inspired by other global initiatives.
“The Presentation Sisters, when they were relooking at their mission, they decided that they wanted to focus on inclusion and they were looking at including young people who were currently not in schools,” said Hallissy.
“They had identified a particular model that they found in the UK called Notschool and they approached them to bring it to Ireland.”
Technology and flexible learning
The technological focus of the project not only appeals to the computer-savvy minds of young students but also gives greater flexibility in the learning experience.
“Online education can personalise the learning experience for these young people so it can allow them to engage in a form of learning, as most of these students are disengaged from school,” said Hallissy.
Full Story: www.siliconrepublic.com
30 minutes a day for PE, urges Taskforce on Obesity [educationmatters.ie]
- Published: 13 May 2011
Speaking in the Dail, Education Minister Ruairí Quinn gave several reasons for dismissing as unfeasible the recommendation of the National Taskforce on Obesity that schools devote a minimum of 30 minutes a day to PE.
His reasons included:
- Length of school day;
- Pressure on time to cover other areas of curriculum adequately;
- Any changes to length of school day would require negotiation with the teacher unions;
- Lengthening of school day would require significant additional resources;
- Limitations to the numbers that can use games and sports facilities in schools at any one time;
- Just half an hour for lunch for primary school pupils who need to spend at least half that time eating.
More teachers needed in near future, says Minister [newstalk.ie]
- Published: 13 May 2011
No bank, No depression, no recession can take away a qualification.
That is the message from Ruairi Quinn today.
The Minister for Education says more teachers will be hired to meet the needs of our rising population.
He was speaking at the official opening of an ‘Educate Together’ primary school in Tullamore.
Full Story: www.newstalk.ie
New technology to see end of roll calls? [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 12 May 2011
The days of teachers running through a register to check that students are in attendance may be nearing an end thanks to new technology.
Two schools in the country have begun trialling face-recognition software to keep tabs on their pupils, with others set to follow suit in September, the Irish Independent reports.
Students arriving at Templeogue College in Dublin and Ardscoil Ris in Limerick look at a wall-mounted device and in seconds are identified and registered as in attendance.
Templeogue principal Aoife O'Donnell said the new technology is an accurate and efficient way of replacing roll calls and had opted for the system ahead of alternatives such as swipe cards, which could be worked around by students getting their friends to sign them in.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
