Employers are telling us that it's time for change [Independent.ie]
- Published: 22 April 2011
LEARNING off by heart might seem like a good idea to Leaving Certificate students but it doesn't serve them or the country well.
Word perfect, they end up squeezing through the narrow gate that is the points system and into college.
But if they wonder why their lecturers are not entirely impressed subsequently, it's because many students lack the ability to learn for themselves.
Rote learning is not what education should be about, and it's certainly not what is required for our much-talked about smart economy or its workforce.
As it stands, every debate about the points system either begins or ends with one issue: it may be blunt, but it has the huge advantages of being fair and transparent.
What's the alternative? It's not simple.
That is why the Higher Education Authority and the National Council for Curriculum is calling on international experts to share their experiences.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Reforms 'needed to change transport system for school kids' [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 21 April 2011
There need to be changes made to the transport system for children in primary and secondary schools, according to a report.
The Coach Tourism & Transport Council (CTTC) of Ireland has stated that if the state made changes to the Bus Eireann and school transportation services, it could save in the region of more than 40 million euros, the Irish Times reports.
According to the group, there is a "conflict of interest" for Bus Eireann operating more than 500 buses owned by the Department of Education and running the School Transport Scheme.
This was set up to enable children who live far away from their educational premises to receive transport to their primary school.
However, the CTCT believes the initiative should instead be run by the National Transport Authority.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Parents to play major role in deciding fate of primary schools [Independent.ie]
- Published: 20 April 2011
A NEW forum will draw up plans to allow parents to help decide whether their local Catholic school is handed over to another patron body.
But how parents' views are measured, which is one of the key issues for consideration by the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector, has yet to be decided.
The forum, which was officially launched yesterday, will draw up guidelines on how best to transfer control of some of the 92pc of Catholic-run primary schools.
And forum chairman Professor John Coolahan, a leading educationalist, has invited written submissions ahead of a three-day open working session at the end of June.
The forum will report by the end of the year and Education Minister Ruairi Quinn hopes the handover process can get under way next year.
Mr Quinn, who controversially claimed a few weeks ago that 50pc of Catholic schools could be transferred, yesterday displayed a subtle shift in thinking.
He said the percentage would vary from place to place, depending on parental wishes -- but it was probable that, over time, about 50pc of primary pupils would be in schools outside church patronage.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
It’s not all about the chocolate [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 20 April 2011
It’s been a long time coming but finally, this weekend, we celebrate Easter. We are on the four-sleep countdown at the moment and some small people are getting very excited about the visit of the Easter Bunny.
The trouble is, the Easter Bunny may not be aware that we already have a large stash of chocolate eggs in the house and I am a bit worried about the fact that he is going to arrive with tonnes more. You see, aunts and uncles, nanas and granddads and kind friends have been appearing with chocolate eggs for the last week and another deluge of family are set to arrive tomorrow, no doubt laden down with eggs and treats from well-meaning family members. I’m starting to have a chocolate panic (partly because I know I will end up eating most of it and my hips really don’t need any more chocolate at this stage in my life).
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Pupils with special needs may face resource teacher shortage [IrishExaminer.com]
- Published: 19 April 2011
THE Department of Education is facing pressure to ensure that children with special needs do not have reduced access to resource teachers from September. As reported in yesterday’s Irish Examiner, schools are to be told soon that they will have to cater for any additional resource teaching requirements out of their existing allocations due to an unexpected rise in demand.
The department has made provision for 9,950 resource teaching posts this year under staffing controls required as part of the EU/IMF bailout. Although this allows for about 300 more resource teachers than last year, the numbers being employed in schools had reached 9,850 by April 1. A pause on the sanction of additional resource teaching hours for pupils assessed as needing help for less common learning difficulties such as autism, hearing or visual impairment was described a fortnight ago as temporary. But the Irish Examiner has learned that the department will not be seeking Government approval to hire more resource teachers than its 9,950 provision.
Full Story: IrishExaminer.com
