The Catholic Schools Partnership is wrong to oppose the Quinn plan [IrishTimes]
- Published: 12 April 2011
THE POSITION paper issued last week by the Catholic Schools Partnership (CSP) – the new umbrella group for Catholic schools – represents the opening salvo in what is likely to be a long war on school patronage.
Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn wants 1,500 schools (about 50 per cent of all primary schools) transferred to other patrons.
But achieving this will be a very tall order.
The CSP paper outlines the value of Catholic schools as places where the emphasis is on “the dignity of the human person as a child of God called to work with other persons in creating an inclusive community in service of the common good.”
It argues that a transfer of patronage should only take place where sufficient demand for a school under different patronage can be demonstrated, following some pilot projects, and only after dialogue with the local community.
Who could possibly argue with this very reasonable approach to this issue?
Well I think the CSP is wrong to oppose the Quinn plan.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
98 inspection reports published on Department's website [education.ie]
- Published: 12 April 2011
Today (12 April, 2011), 98 school inspection-reports were published on the Department of Education and Skills' website. The new inspection reports on the web today consist of:
- 21 whole-school evaluations (WSEs) at primary level
- 4 whole-school evaluations (WSEs) at post-primary level, including 15 subject inspections and 1 programme evaluation
- 53 stand-alone subject inspections
- 4 stand-alone programme evaluations
Since 6th February 2006, school inspection reports are published on the Department of Education and Skills' website at regular intervals throughout the school year.
Today’s publication brings the total number of school-inspection reports on the website to 4,536, representative of 1,841 schools and centres for education.
WSE reports comment on the school's management, planning and management of resources, the effectiveness of teaching and learning, its arrangements for student assessment, supports for students, provision for minority groups and home-school links.
Depending on the size of the school, an inspector or team of inspectors visits the school for a period of time to evaluate management and planning; teaching and learning and supports for pupils.
Following this evaluation phase of WSE, inspectors discuss the findings and recommendations with school management and members of the teaching staff.
Full Story: www.education.ie
Campaign to save small rural schools [IrishTimes]
- Published: 11 April 2011
A MOVEMENT aimed at protecting small rural schools will be launched this evening in Co Sligo, where almost one-third of primary schools are facing a Government value-for-money review.
Appealing for the support of communities throughout the county, the organisers have predicted that up to 1,000 people will attend the “Save our Schools” public meeting.
They said 21 of the 69 primary schools in the county had fewer than 50 pupils and were therefore subject to the Department of Education review.
Parents, teachers, community leaders, representatives of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation, the Gaelic Athletic Association, and the Irish Farmers’ Association, as well as Sligo-North Leitrim’s three TDs, have been invited.
June McCormack, principal of Cairns national school in Co Sligo, which has 27 pupils, said it was crucial that rural people let the Government know the important role played by schools in their communities. She said there was a danger that with the current focus on cutting costs, many small schools would be swept away in a recessionary tide, despite the damage this would do to communities.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Minister Cannon opens Gaelscoil na bhFilí [DES P.R. Education.ie]
- Published: 11 April 2011
The Minister for Training and Skills, Ciaran Cannon TD today opened Gaelscoil na bhFilí in Gort, Co. Galway. Gaelscoil na bhFilí has a current enrolment of 59 pupils. The school's curriculum is taught through the medium of Irish. Considerable emphasis is placed on the development of culture and tradition in the school.
The Gaelscoil derives its name from the family connection between James Fahey, one of the key figures behind the school's establishment and the poet known colloquially as ' The Poet Fahey ', his father.
Speaking at the opening, Minister Cannon said "this is an important day for Gaelscoil na bhFilí.
"The school has grown considerably since its opening in 2007 and has clearly demonstrated the benefits of the community here in Gort working together to achieve a common goal. "The pupils, staff and board of management at the school together with the parents have steadfastly shown their commitment to the school, to the community and to the language," said Minister Cannon. Addressing the parents, in particular, Minister Cannon went on to say "I would strongly encourage you to continue to use what Irish you have with your children.
Full Story: www.education.ie
Minister Quinn launches 'Write to Read' Literacy Project [DES P.R. Eucation.ie]
- Published: 11 April 2011
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD today launched the second phase of the Write to Read Literacy Project, a College School Partnership Project focussing on Literacy.
The Launch Took place at St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra on Dublin's northside.
The findings of the pilot project were impressive and clearly show the significant results that can be achieved in improving literacy attainment for children when sufficient efforts are made to identify and address the weaknesses which currently exist in our schools.
the numbers of children below the 10th percentile in reading on a standardised test were reduced by 75% and that at the end of the study 20% of children were above the 80th percentile whereas there had been no children in this category at the beginning of the study.
This evidence clearly shows that, given the right conditions, there should be no obstacles preventing children from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve to the level of their more advantaged peers.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Quinn said "In the Programme for Government my commitment to radically improving the literacy and numeracy standards achieved by our young people is clear.
Full Story: www.education.ie
