IPPN

U2 donate €5m in instrument money [theirishworld.com]

Published: 29 March 2011

To the outside Cork would seem to do very well when it comes to music – it’s associated with many famous names in the musical world, from Sean O Riada to the Frank & Walters, John Spillane to Cara O’Sullivan, and many others. At academic level music is well catered for, with diploma and degree courses offered at CIT Cork School of Music & UCC.

But Cork, like many other cities, is divided and the area where you are born defines your opportunities – this is as true of music as it is of life in general. Despite this, in small pockets in the most unlikely of settings, across the northside of Cork, something magical is happening – in a prefab in Knocknaheeny, in a primary school in the Glen, in Cope Foundation in Mayfield, children are being taught a variety of musical instruments and it’s causing quite a stir.

It’s this type of activity we want to see happening in all areas of the city, especially in RAPID areas – and a new scheme, the brainchild of U2, offers Cork the chance to do this. RAPID is a government scheme aimed at improving the quality of life of people living in disadvantaged areas – the letters stand for Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment & Development.

U2 have donated €5m in an effort to give other young people the opportunity they had to learn to play instruments when they attended Mount Temple on the northside of Dublin. This national music education initiative Music Generation was announced in 2009 by U2, together with the Ireland Funds and Music Network, and is supported by the Department of Education and Skills.

It’s the intention of Music Generation through Music Education Partnerships to deliver new opportunities for vocal and instrumental tuition for young people and to raise the profile of Music Education in Ireland. In order to apply for funding under the scheme, a Music Education Partnership (MEP) has been formed in Cork City.

Full Story: www.theirishworld.com

Church 'shocked' by Quinn plan for schools [independent.ie]

Published: 29 March 2011

CATHOLIC Church leaders last night said they were shocked by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn's target of transferring more than 1,500 church schools to other patrons.

And they argued that his start date for the transfers to begin in next January was too ambitious.

The minister is setting up a Forum on Patronage and Pluralism which will report by the end of October, with the possibility of transfers starting early next year. But church sources said the minister was going too far, too fast.

Minister Quinn announces appointment of John Walshe as his Special Adviser [Education.ie P.R.]

Published: 29 March 2011

The Minister for Education and Skills, Mr Ruairi Quinn TD, today announced the appointment of John Walshe, Education Editor with the Irish Independent, as his Special Adviser.

The Minister said he was looking forward to using John's knowledge of the education system to further the Government's agenda for change and for the delivery of a high quality educational experience to students at all levels.

Catholic church to lose stronghold on Irish education system [irishcentral.com]

Published: 29 March 2011

Ireland’s Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, has established an expert group to examine how the majority of primary schools will be moved from Catholic Church patronage.

The minister has said he wants more than 50 percent of the Ireland’s schools currently under Church patronage to move to an alternative guardianship.

The Catholic church controls about 90 percent of the State’s 3,200 primary schools.

Professor John Coolahan, from the National University of Maynooth will chair the forum, which will have its first meeting this coming May.

Dr Coolahan will be supported by Fionnuala Kilfeather, former chief executive of the National Parents' Council, and Dr Caroline Hussey, former registrar and deputy president at UCD.

The working group will advice the new minister on a range of issues to ensure that primary schools in Ireland can cater for all religions, as well as the practicalities of how to transfer patronage.

The forum will also include input from various patronage bodies, Irish Primary Principals' Network, the Irish National Teachers Organization and other stakeholders including parents. It will also take submissions from the public.

Full Story: www.irishcentral.com

What does the Teaching Council do? [IrishTimes]

Published: 29 March 2011

This month, more than 70,000 teachers pay their annual €90 registration fee to the Teaching Council, the regulatory body for the professsion. But what does the council actually do – and how does it spend this money?

IT’S HARD TO find a teacher with a good word to say about the Teaching Council. Set up in 2006 to regulate and develop the teaching profession, the council is still finding its feet, and its powers are only gradually being rolled out.

This cautious and slow approach has caused some frustration among the 74,000 teachers who are due to pay the €90 annual registration fee this week.