A Darndale school shows that an innovative literacy programme can work [IrishTimes]
- Published: 26 April 2011
TALK BACK: The decline in literacy levels can be stopped if systems are put in place, writes BRIAN MOONEY
The annual EU education report published last week revealed that the number of children in Irish schools who attained low achievement levels in reading increased from 11 per cent in 2000 to over 17 per cent in 2009.
Part of this can be attributed to the mainstreaming of children with disabilities into schools where the EU assessments of reading levels took place.
A further factor is the arrival of large numbers of immigrant children with poor to non-existent English literacy skills into our school system over the survey period.
A third and vital factor in explaining declining literacy levels is the increasing influence of electronic media. As any parent will confirm, there has been a dramatic increase in online activity among school-going children. Facebook is part of the everyday life of our children and they are texting or playing video games. It all makes the task of parents and teachers more difficult as they try to foster a love of reading.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Getting ready to whip up a storm [IrishTimes]
- Published: 26 April 2011
THE EDUCATION PROFILE THE TEACHING CONFERENCE DELEGATE: On TV, it always looks like a right old moan-fest, so why do 1,500 teachers elect to spend Easter in windowless conference halls? And do they portray the teaching profession in a good light, asks LOUISE HOLDEN
THIS IS THE WEEK when over a thousand teachers will traverse Ireland to attend ‘congress’. The teachers’ conferences are an Easter staple – they attract pages of news coverage and generate plenty of heat but do they actually achieve anything? Why do so many teachers give up their Easter holidays to incubate themselves in a carpeted, sunless atmosphere of unrest?
Regardless of the economic backdrop, there is always an air of dissatisfaction at congress; at least during the official hours of motions and counter-motions, votes and debates. Delegates spend days in convention rooms sucking Fox’s glacier mints and consulting glossy guides featuring motions, union business and lists upon lists of names.
Over the course of three days, it’s possible to become completely enwombed in the windowless rooms, the hotel coffee and the endless march of complaints from various members of the teaching profession. These range from moderate individuals calling for syllabus reform to tub-thumping radicals calling for industrial action.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Fewer jobs for teachers next year, says Quinn [IrishTimes]
- Published: 26 April 2011
NEWLY QUALIFIED teachers struggling to find work will have an even harder time next year as schools are forced to recruit from panels drawn from schools with a surplus of teachers, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn told teachers gathered in Sligo yesterday.
The Minister acknowledged the “concern and anxiety” of young teachers in temporary positions or seeking work, but had little hope to offer this group. He said the situation might be worsened by the establishment of teacher panels, from which schools will now be obliged to recruit.
“The Government is prepared to honour the Croke Park commitment in relation to no redundancy for those holding permanent posts,” he said.
“However, to deliver on that commitment means that this year we will need to redeploy teachers into positions that traditionally have been filled by teachers on short-term contracts.”
The Minister said the department could not afford to leave a teacher surplus in one school while filling vacancies in another.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Quinn pledges detailed review of education spend [IrishTimes]
- Published: 26 April 2011
Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn today warned of further cuts in spending as he pledged to carry out a detailed review of expenditure in his department.
Speaking on RTÉ radio this morning, Mr Quinn said he needed to reduce expenditure in terms of services and facilities.
"We are doing a public expenditure review at the behest of Brendan Howlin. What that means is that every programme of expenditure in every government department is looked at and we ask the fundamental question do we need this or can it be eliminated, reduced or transformed. This has worked in Canada and other countries," he said.
Mr Quinn said it would not be a "slash and burn" approach but rather a critical review of programmes. "There’s a difference between pruning a rose bush and digging out the plant," he said.
He reiterated that there would be no reversal of controversial cuts to special needs classes. "The cap will stay. What we will look at is how to better redeploy the ten and a half thousand special needs assistants across the spectrum," he said.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Minister tells primary teachers “position is stark” [educationmatters.ie]
- Published: 26 April 2011
"I want to start by thanking you for your invitation to join you at your annual congress today and for your warm welcome. I’m delighted to be here.
"...I am anxious to ensure that all the education partners are in no doubt of the very difficult road that lies ahead.
"In my opening remarks, therefore I will set out the challenges we face as a country and what that means for the education sector.
"... I want to be frank about the resources that are likely to be available for education in the coming period. I am not going to pretend that the resources available for education can be improved, earlier decisions reversed, or further difficult measures avoided.
"The bottom line is that Ireland has to reduce its expenditure on public services and that means further difficult and painful decisions. We must all come to terms with the extent to which our reliance on EU/IMF funding means that we operate without economic sovereignty."
Full Story: www.educationmatters.ie
