Government urged not to make changes to education agreement [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 27 April 2011
The Irish government has been warned not to make any alterations to the Croke Park agreement, which would see changes in the country's education system.
President of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) Jack Keane revealed concerns about the future of the Croke Park deal, which protects the pay and employment conditions of school staff.
Speaking at the union's conference earlier this week, he said: "A deal is a deal. In the event of any attempt by your government to deviate from its terms we absolutely reserve the right to withdraw from all aspects of the agreement."
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Junior Cert exam faces axe in plans for reform [Independent.ie]
- Published: 27 April 2011
THE Junior Cert June exams face the axe under a reform plan soon to land on the desk of Education Minister Ruairi Quinn. In their place would be continuous assessment of pupils by their own teachers, backed by a system of independent verification.
It is the most radical option in proposals being drawn up by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). An alternative scenario involves retaining written exams only in core subjects, such as Irish, English, maths and science. The NCCA is also proposing a cap of eight on the number of subjects taken in the Junior Cert, instead of up to 12 or 14
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Unqualified teachers ban fast-tracked [Independent.ie]
- Published: 27 April 2011
PRIMARY school teachers have threatened to refuse to work in the same school as unqualified staff from September. The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) yesterday delivered the ultimatum by fast-tracking a ban that they had not planned to implement until 2013.
It prompted a positive response from EducatIon Minister Ruairi Quinn who promised to consider the union's idea of panels of qualified teachers from which principals could source staff for substitute or temporary work.
The INTO decision to bring forward their boycott followed revelations in the Irish Independent this week showing hundreds of persons with no teaching qualifications working in primary schools.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
'Difficult decisions to be made' over Ireland's education system [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 26 April 2011
Ireland could see a number of changes made to its education system this week as the annual teachers' conferences take place over the next few days.
Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn has warned those in the sector that there will be difficult decisions made, which are likely to affect them, according to RTE.
Speaking at the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) conference, he said there are hard targets to meet and many budget cuts to take into account.
However, he told those in the industry that he understood the difficulty of pay cuts and job losses and commended their support and volunteerism.
He echoed comments made earlier this month in which he suggested that further reductions will need to be made if the Croke Park deal does not help ease education budget concerns.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Teacher's Pet [IrishTimes]
- Published: 26 April 2011
An insider’s guide to education
The Ruairí Quinn Revolution is continuing apace at the Department of Education.
The new Minister is at his desk every morning by 8am, relishing the task of transforming Ireland’s education system.
Despite his age (Quinn celebrated his 65th birthday recently ) the new Minister is a man in a hurry. He has let it be known he has only two and a half years to achieve real progress – before the mid-term Cabinet reshuffle.
Last week Quinn finalised a strong management team, with the appointment of Deirdre Grant as communications director.
A former broadcast journalist with an intuitive understanding of the media business, Grant will be a key figure in driving perhaps the most ambitious agenda ever set by an education minister.
Within the department, Quinn sees secretary general Brigid McManus and much-lauded assistant secretary Martin Hanevy as key allies in the battles ahead.
Quinn himself has been encouraged by the response to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism. The expected fire and brimstone from the hierarchy never materialised. And Quinn’s tactic of setting ambitious targets (a 50 per cent transfer rate for Catholic schools) helped to concentrate minds.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
