Pilot scheme boosts literacy skills [Independent.ie]
- Published: 11 April 2011
School children who struggled with basic literacy skills were reading more than 50 books a year by the end of a successful project, it has emerged.
Write to Read, a pilot scheme launched in a north Dublin school, is being rolled out to 1,200 pupils in eight national schools across the capital.
Research showed the number of pupils in Our Lady Immaculate Junior School in Darndale who ranked in the lowest 10 percentile in reading dropped by three quarters after the scheme.
Elsewhere one in five students was in the high-achieving 80 percentile mark on a standardised test. No children had been in this category at the beginning of the study.
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said: "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."
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Quinn learning church not ready to let go of schools [Independent.ie]
- Published: 10 April 2011
Remember the formation of the Cabinet? How there was a delay before the Taoiseach came into the Dail to announce it, and the rumours about last-minute behind-the-scenes rows?
I'm not talking about Joan Burton's supposed tantrum at not getting a finance portfolio (although the tantrum seems largely to have been thrown by other people who thought she should feel snubbed). I mean the other backroom rumour, that Ruairi Quinn, former Labour Party leader, former Minister for Finance, and what is commonly known as a "veteran politician" had, in lobby parlance "thrown the cat among the pigeons" by claiming that there was "fight in the old dog yet". In other words, lads, I'm still here, and I want a ministry.
And he got it. He got the Department of Education. And there's definitely fight in the old dog yet. There's plain talking and energy for fundamental change in our inadequate educational system, starting with the scandalous level of illiteracy in this country.
So who's cheering for Ruairi Quinn in his first few weeks as Minister for Education? Well, not the Roman Catholic Church for a start. Remember not so long ago how it seemed as though the church was finally acknowledging that its stranglehold on the State primary education system was untenable? The Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin was quite forceful three years ago about the undesirability of his church being over-represented in the primary education system. That "over-representation" comprises 90 per cent of the 3,200 primary schools in the State: owned by the church, controlled by it, and imposing the ethos of the Catholic Church.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Children from poorer families face double hit at third level [Independent.ie]
- Published: 09 April 2011
CHILDREN from less well-off backgrounds suffer a double disadvantage when it comes to getting a third-level education.
It is well-known that fewer go to college. Now it emerges that even when they do get there, they are much older than the typical 18-year-old entrant.
The Leaving Certificate is the accepted passport to third-level education for students from the country's higher socio-economic groups.
More than 70pc of college students from professional families get into their degree course on the basis of their Leaving Certificate, according to new figures.
But children from lower socio-economic groups do not enjoy the same seamless school-to-college transition.
Only 55pc of students from an 'unskilled manual' socio-economic background progressed to college after the Leaving Certificate.
Not surprisingly, the situation is reversed in the breakdown for mature college entrants -- those who are over 23-years-old.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
ERP launches fun online recycling Teacher’s Kit [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 08 April 2011
The European Recycling Platform (ERP) is proud to launch an exciting set of online tools to help young school children understand the importance of recycling through fun animated online tool kit for teachers. Through interactive and educational games quizzes and colouring sheets the ERP Be Free recycling team communicate responsible recycling of electrical and electronic products and waste batteries and teachers can download the kit for FREE from www.erp-recycling.ie
The Be Free Recycling Team’ is led by Captain Recycle, a superhero character charged with spreading the responsible recycling message. His team comprises of bright and colourful characters including:
Little Miss Positive, who says “remember kids be positive about recycling”
Bulba Light, The brightest member of the team, busy lighting up school and home
Freeza Chill, says “Remind everyone to recycle me when I stop working!”
Tela Vision, “thanks for watching me, and don’t forget to look after me in my old age”
Irona Steam, is hot to tell you how to recycle free at your local recycling centre!
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Concern raised over plans to add extra school days because of bad weather [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 08 April 2011
Concern has been raised after it was revealed that primary and secondary schools could lose some of their holidays in an attempt to make up for time lost when they were closed due to bad weather.
An article in the Irish Independent has revealed that the Department of Education has talked to management and teacher unions over the proposals to change the 2011/2012 February mid-term and Easter break dates.
It stated that holidays need to be reduced as the last two winters have seen schools closed on a number of days because pupils and teachers were unable to come in.
In December 2010 alone, education facilities across Ireland were shut for 12 days in some areas.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
