Minister Haughey opens 4 newly refurbished science labs in Alma mater, St. Paul's College, Raheny [education.ie]
- Published: 31 January 2011
The Minister for Lifelong Learning, Seán Haughey TD, today returned to his Alma mater, St Paul’s College, Sybil Hill, Raheny on Dublin's northside to open four newly refurbished science laboratories.
The newly state of the art science facilities are the result of an investment by the Government of more than €440,000 under the Department's Summer Works Scheme.
Speaking to a specially invited audience, Minister Haughey said 'I am delighted to be back here in St. Paul's this evening to open the newly refurbished and upgraded science laboratories.'
'I remember with fondness my time here at St.Paul's where my two brothers also attended.'
'The new laboratories will be of enormous benefit and bolster the delivery of the school's science curriculum for its 600 students.'
'Particularly in these difficult economic times, we must continue to ensure a steady supply of science graduates.'
'St Paul's is a very caring school, something I remember only too well, that develops students in a holistic way in the true traditions of the Vincentians and has always promoted practical education among its students.'
'These new laboratories will help the school to build on that record and prepare the generations ahead for the challenges of the smart economy,’ said Minister Haughey.
Full Story: www.education.ie
Goodwill can't be taken for granted [Independent.ie]
- Published: 30 January 2011
This is the time of year when extra-curricular activity in our secondary schools is at its peak, especially for those students in an exam year because it is far enough away from June to allow other interests outside the classroom get some attention.
Just last week, the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght played host to three days of intense competition for the schools cup finals and, of course, the Gaelic football, hurling and rugby competitions in the four provinces are now off and running. Most will reach their climax in March, allowing students to re-focus in plenty of time for exams.
Not that all this activity is the exclusive preserve of sport -- far from it in fact. Music, art, drama, science, and much, much more are catered for in schools. Indeed, a study last year found that Irish second-level schools are engaged in 85 separate extra-curricular activities, and sport -- and team sport in particular -- leads the way.
Many of our most famous sports people still place success at schools level high on their list of achievements. In Gaelic games especially, a Hogan Cup or a Croke Cup can rank up there with an All-Ireland medal. Kerry manager Jack O'Connor has seen it all, yet in his autobiography one game he singles out is a heartbreaking All-Ireland colleges semi-final defeat. And O'Connor (pictured), in another reference to his involvement with schools football, admits he "can get misty-eyed just talking about it".
But away from the blaze of publicity currently surrounding the country's political and financial meltdown, thousands of secondary school teachers will this week vote for a second time on the Croke Park agreement, which among other things will add an hour to their working week. On the face of it, the ballot appears almost anachronistic -- the Croke Park horse has after all long since bolted. Having been in the minority last year among public sector workers, there is an element of face-saving in this exercise to in effect endorse the lengthy consultation process that followed last year's rejection.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Could you do without your union dues? [Independent.ie]
- Published: 30 January 2011
NOT only have the recession, budget cutbacks and higher taxes forced many of us to forget about our sun holiday this year -- more than 100,000 of us can't even afford to pay our electricity or gas bills.
Despite this, many of us are forking out a few hundred euro a year to be in a trade union. Furthermore, as the tax relief on trade union subscriptions was abolished earlier this month, the cost of your trade union membership will go up by as much as €70 this year.
If your union means nothing more to you than boring meetings and a magazine which comes in the post every so often (which you fall asleep reading), it could be time to put that few hundred euro you pay to your union each year back into your pocket.
It's about two years since teachers picketed the headquarters of Anglo Irish Bank to vent their anger about the public sector pension levy.
This would be the first of many teacher protests against the pension levy, which cut their pay by up to 10.5 per cent. Despite union action, teachers have had to live with the pension levy -- as well as further pay cuts.
Teachers taking up jobs this year will be paid up to €6,000 less than those who started jobs in 2010 -- because of the 10 per cent cut in public service starter salaries announced by Finance Minister Brian Lenihan last month. There have also been painful staff cutbacks in schools over the last couple of years.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Schools may cancel tours to make up for lost snow days [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 29 January 2011
SCHOOLS might have to cancel school tours or planned days off to make up for time lost during last month’s freezing weather conditions, under guidance from the Department of Education.
Although most of the country’s 4,000 primary and second-level schools had to close for very few, if any days, it is believed that pupils were kept at home for more than two weeks in total from a few dozen schools, mostly in rural areas and where dangerous roads or icy school grounds made it impossible to remain open.
Following discussions with unions and representatives of boards of management, the department is telling schools it is up to each of them to decide how to make up any lost time, given the variation of the impact on class time.
The first step they are advised to take in a letter issued by officials is to assess the effect of lost teaching time and identify any shortfalls arising from the unforeseen closures, and then to check with the principal and teachers that each class or year group can complete the relevant curriculum before the summer holidays.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
Programme aims to keep children at school [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 29 January 2011
A PROGRAMME is being drafted with the aim of keeping children in school and their parents out of the courts.
The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) said work had begun on a plan with other agencies aimed at "attendance, participation and retention" of children at school until the completion of second level.Under a new integration plan the NEWB — which monitors attendance and issues summonses against parents if their children fail to attend — and other bodies such as the School Completion Programme and home school liaison officers will work together to ensure that greater numbers of children stay in the school system.
According to the NEWB school absenteeism rates have stayed at similar levels to those three years ago, when the percentage of student/days lost through absence was running at more than 6% in primary schools and about 8% in post-primary schools.
Figures for 2009 are expected to be published shortly, but statistics for the number of prosecutions brought against parents last year show that the number of convictions is increasing.
Persistent non-attendance of children at school results in the issuing of a School Attendance Notice (SAN), after which an education welfare officer begins a formal monitoring process.
If the situation does not improve then a summons is issued. Last year a record 410 SANs were issued and a record 94 new summonses were issued.
There were 52 convictions in the district courts last year, also a record, and at least 10 people were sent to prison for failing to send their children to school.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
