Schools ‘should stop focus on final exams’ [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 12 May 2011
A SMOOTHER transition for pupils moving from primary to second-level education and less reliance on final exams are key to effective reform of the Junior Certificate, an expert has suggested.
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has asked for changes to the junior system to be in place for tens of thousands of students entering first year in just over a year. But work has been ongoing toward possible reforms by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), based on previous research.
Dr Emer Smyth of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has headed up the most detailed studies, which tracked more than 900 students who entered 12 second-level schools a decade ago through to the Junior Certificate. She believes that, while the question of subject overload is often blamed for student disengaging from school, this is more of a concern to parents and teachers than students themselves.
Instead, she believes one of the most important moves needed is to make sure second-level teachers are much more aware of what their students have learned in primary. The ESRI’s junior cycle research found variations in such knowledge from school to school.
"The presence of the Junior Certificate exam has such a backwash effect on everything that goes on in the classroom. It raises the question of a need for other forms of assessment or fewer exams and a move to learning methods which might suit all students," Dr Smyth said.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
Quinn intervenes in reappointment of college chief [Independent.ie]
- Published: 12 May 2011
EDUCATION Minister Ruairi Quinn last night dramatically intervened in a deepening row over the re-appointment of Waterford Institute of Technology president Professor Kieran Byrne.
He did so amid new revelations over the level of spending authorised by the president's office in the past seven years.
It includes €290,814 for hospitality, €139,977 for courier and taxi charges -- including €129,295 to one local company -- and €134,009 for fine art.
The minister issued a surprise statement on the eve of a meeting of the WIT Governing Body today, which has Prof Byrne's reappointment on the agenda.
Mr Quinn said that the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the State's funding arm for higher education, was awaiting an immediate report on spending at the institute.
Prof Byrne expected to be returned unopposed to the post he has held for 10 years, but the decision was delayed from a previous meeting amid revelations of high spending.
According to previous reports, about €170,000 was spent on fitting out the president's office and the boardroom.
These were based on responses to Freedom of Information (FoI) requests submitted by the Waterford Colleges branch of the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI).
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Fee-paying schools lose building grants [Independent.ie]
- Published: 12 May 2011
EDUCATION Minister Ruairi Quinn has excluded fee-paying schools from the latest round of building grants.
The minister took a decision not to share any of the €30m fund among schools where fees range between €2,550 and €12,750 a year for day pupils.
It is a departure from tradition and sends a signal to the 57 schools involved that they can no longer take for granted state support for building works.
Under the Government's Jobs Initiative, 374 schools will receive an average of €82,000 each to spend on minor works, such as toilets and roofs, over the summer.
A spokesperson for the minister said: "It was necessary to prioritise funding and, at the minister's request, the focus was on funding schools that don't charge fees."
The spokesperson added that the decision was taken in relation to the Jobs Initiative and did not represent a change in policy.
It is expected that the €30m programme will create 2,400 direct jobs and 480 indirect jobs in the construction sector.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Bullying drives boy (12) to brink of suicide – mum [wicklownews.net]
- Published: 11 May 2011
A two-year campaign of harassment and intimidation by primary school bullies has driven a 12-year-old boy to the brink of suicide, a mother has revealed.
The County Wicklow mum yesterday told WicklowNews.net of her heartache over the bullying of her 6th class son which has culminated with the creation of a Facebook page containing homosexual slurs posted by thugs masquerading online as her son.
And the heartbroken mum revealed how adult men began leaving posts on the page in an effort to contact the youth after the profile was posted on a gay adult website.
The woman, who wished to remain anonymous for fear her son would be subjected to further abuse, told how for the past two years pre-teen bullies have made his life a misery.
“He’s been so upset and frustrated and keeps asking ‘why me, I’m not the one who did anything wrong, why are they attacking me,” she said. “He loves school but he just does not want to go there anymore.”
Full Story: www.wicklownews.net
Dyslexia Positive in Ireland: New Approach to Learning Support [prlog.org]
- Published: 11 May 2011
All too often dyslexia is looked upon negatively. Children with mild or severe dyslexia are often seen as victims, and not as clever as other children. Yet the truth is a lot more positive. Children with dyslexia are often gifted in areas other that reading and maths. They tend to make good leaders, great problem solvers, good diplomats and demonstrate strong social skills. The World has long benefited from those who are dyslexic across a wide field of sectors from entertainment to science to technology.
Children with dyslexia are often better than average and outperform their peers in many areas including; creative thinking, visual awareness, problem solving and verbal communication.
Children with dyslexia often go on to become successful in the arts and the media, in politics, in business and in scientific disciplines ranging physics, mathematics and computer programming. And in many more fields. Famous people ranging from Albert Einstein (scientist) to Tom Cruise (actor) have benefited greatly in their careers and work from being dyslexic. Your child can too!
Full Story: www.prlog.org
