Education editor to take up role with minister [Independent.ie]
- Published: 31 March 2011
THE Irish Independent's education editor John Walshe said last night he was "honoured" by his appointment as special adviser to Education and Skills Minister Ruairi Quinn.
Mr Walshe has been education editor of this newspaper for 19 years and is a former consultant to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
In that role, he was involved in the publication of four papers on student motivation, adult education, teachers' professional development and new forms of school management.
Mr Walshe, a native of Galway city, has also served as an Irish correspondent for a range of international educational publications.
"I am honoured and flattered to be asked to join Ruairi Quinn as special adviser," he said.
"I've really enjoyed my time in journalism but I look forward to the new challenge of being part of the Government's agenda to achieve excellence in education."
A graduate of both NUI Galway and UCC, his M Ed thesis formed the basis of 'A New Partnership in Education' and was published by the Institute of Public Administration.
Mr Walshe started out in journalism on the then NUI Galway student publication 'Unity', before joining the Irish Independent as its education correspondent in 1970. At that time, he was aged 23.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Church patronage of primary schools [IrishTimes]
- Published: 31 March 2011
Madam, – The Irish Catholic Church has lately intimated through Archbishop Diarmuid Martin that it would no longer insist on continuing to govern the very large number of public primary schools which it owns and controls, and has done since the foundation of the State (Home News, February 23rd). This volte-face is to be welcomed, seeing that the majority of the population no longer feels its children should be force-fed any one particular religious ethos or creed.
The State will therefore assume the ownership of these many schools, and will as a consequence be compelled to purchase them from their clerical owners. In view of the tardy and inadequate manner in which the institutional Catholic Church has so far behaved regarding the recompense and treatment of the huge numbers who have suffered abuse and pain at the hands of its ministers and clergy, would it not now be just and proper that these school buildings and appurtenances should be donated free and unentailed to the State? After all, the Irish State has always paid for the maintenance and salaries of these schools and their teachers over the years, and the cost of such a purchase, despite the recent fall in real estate worth, would amount to yet another serious financial burden on this already deeply indebted country.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Social impact [Cork Independent]
- Published: 31 March 2011
An Executive of the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) in Cork has called on the Department of Education to consider the devastating social impact of closing or amalgamating schools under the Value for Money (VFM) review of small primary schools.
Angela Lynch, Principal of Scoil Mhuire gan Smal in Glasheen, was one of the earlier organising committee members of the Cork IPPN, and is now a network Executive. While her school is unaffected by the review, due to its size, there are 47 primary schools with less than 50 pupils in Cork currently being reviewed.
Of the 47 small primary schools, Scoil Naomh Michael in Blackrock is the only city school on the list of schools for the year 2009/2010, with less than 50 pupils and two or less teachers. The smallest school named is the Rathduane National School in Mallow, which is listed as having eight pupils and two teachers.
The deadline for submissions from interest groups concerned about the future of small schools was Friday 18 March, however, this has since been extended. “The local school is the focus of the community, especially the rural schools. The IPPN is calling on the Department to consider, not just the value for money as recommended by the McCarthy Report, the value of the school in the community.
“This is not a black and white issue. Each school must be reviewed to consider the social impact, which could be devastating to some communities,” said Ms Lynch. She said the IPPN had commissioned research in 2005 on the future of small schools in Ireland, which she said the Department should now revisit when looking at its options.
“Schools can form a confederation, where there are a number of small schools in one area. There are options but there is no number on education and its value in the lives of the children. “We would now be looking for a discussion with the Department about those schools which are not deemed viable. Each school differs and local factors must be considered,” she said.
Full Story: www.corkindependent.com
Labour looks to Scottish Model [Independent.ie]
- Published: 31 March 2011
In helping to devise Labour's literacy strategy, Aodhan O'Riordain has looked at a Scottish programme that helped to push up standards of reading and writing.
The scheme in West Dunbartonshire, north of Glasgow, was devised by an educational psychologist, Tommy MacKay, and introduced in 1997.
Dr MacKay persuaded his local council to take a "zero tolerance'' approach to illiteracy.
The psychologist advocated the use of Synthetic Phonics, where children learn the sounds of letters on their own, and then combined with other letters.
The council has a crack team of centrally employed literacy teachers who go from school to work with young children.
There is a strong emphasis on work with parents. Parents go to the school for reading workshops and are encouraged to read to their children before they have reached school age.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
New National Advocacy Service gives a voice to vulnerable people with disabilities [citizensinformationboard.ie]
- Published: 31 March 2011
A new National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS) has been launched, today, by the Minister for Social Protection Ms Joan Burton T.D. The service will provide independent, representative advocacy services for vulnerable people with disabilities. It is managed by five Citizens Information Services with teams based around the country with regional offices in Dublin, Westmeath, Offaly, Waterford and Leitrim. The service is funded and supported by the Citizens Information Board.
The keynote speaker Caroline Casey, Social Entrepreneur and Founder of Kanchi outlined the importance of the new service and the benefits of supporting an inclusive society where everyone has something to offer.
Speaking at the launch of the National Advocacy Service, Tony McQuinn, Chief Executive, Citizens Information Board said: "Many people with disabilities are well equipped to make their own decisions when they have access to the necessary information and advice. However, some vulnerable people with disabilities are at a disadvantage when claiming their entitlements or making important decisions. The new National Advocacy Service will give a voice to those who are isolated in the community or who live in residential institutions and who cannot represent themselves. The Service will protect their rights, help them gain their entitlements and make positive changes in their quality of life"
The new service follows the completion of a 5 year pilot Advocacy Programme for People with Disabilities which supported 46 projects nationwide. An independent evaluation report praised the achievements of the pilot programme for the innovative work undertaken and the number of cases (over 6,000) dealt with. The report recommended the development of a national structure to create better co-ordination and a more consistent service for people with disabilities.
Full Story: www.citizensinformationboard.ie
