Proposal for new schools to share grounds [IrishTimes]
- Published: 04 January 2011
PROPOSED NEW primary schools must signal their readiness to be part of a “campus development” with other schools in order to gain recognition by the Department of Education, according to a draft report for Minister for Education Mary Coughlan.
The report – on the procedures for establishing new primary schools – says it is no longer practical for “every student to be provided with access to a place in a school operated by a patron of their choice”.
In future, it says patrons must be able to show clear public demand for their proposed schools. In a proposal which could generate difficulties for Catholic schools, it also says patrons must demonstrate that the demand for any proposed new school is not already being met.
Last year, the department identified possible areas where the Catholic Church might divest itself of certain primary schools.
In a submission to the department, Catholic school managers said the preparedness of the church to consider a transfer in patronage “is something which will merit favourable consideration in applications for recognition of new Catholic primary schools, this would be a reciprocation of goodwill”.
The report by senior Department of Education officials and education partners wants a radical overhaul of the existing, informal procedures for the recognition of schools.
At present , schools can be established with a minimum number of just 17 pupils. The new report says schools should have capacity for up to three streams, or about 75 pupils.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Northern schools have double South's computers [IrishTimes]
- Published: 04 January 2011
SCHOOLS IN Northern Ireland have almost twice as many computers as their counterparts in the Republic.
Figures published by the Department of Education inspectorate show a ratio of one computer for every five pupils in primary schools in the North.
By contrast, there is only one computer available for every nine pupils in the Republic.
Last night, the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation claimed a “digital divide” now existed between schools in the two parts of Ireland. Its general secretary Sheila Nunan said: “Schools in the North are an example of what can be done whereas schools in the South are an example of what should be done.”
Ten years ago a new school computing initiative Classroom 2000 was rolled out to all schools in the North. Over that time it has delivered nearly 70,000 networked computers to schools.
In stark contrast, schools in the Republic could, according to Ms Nunan, “paper the classroom walls with glossy reports from Government on what can be done with technology in classrooms. In fact, the digital divide is widening because of a lack of investment and a coherent national plan.”
The union said Ireland would continue to lag behind the rest of the world until the Government “puts its money where its mouth is” and gave schools the resources to do what needed to be done.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Water crisis-hit schools to reopen [Independent.ie]
- Published: 03 January 2011
Almost all schools in Northern Ireland will open on time on Tuesday after the water leaks crisis.
Just nine have been forced to stay shut because of flood damage, education minister Caitriona Ruane said.
But supplies to around 10,000 properties still affected by the disruption face further restrictions. The areas include greater Belfast where service reservoirs have yet to fill up. Another 300 customers have still to be reconnected and must go without supplies.
Laurence MacKenzie, chief executive of Northern Ireland Water, the company at the centre of the burst mains fiasco which left tens of thousands of homes without water over Christmas and New Year, is under pressure to resign.
Conor Murphy, the regional development minister who ordered a full investigation into the affair, also faced demands to go.
It was feared many classrooms affected by leaks might not be able to reopen, but Ms Ruane confirmed that more or less all schools will be ready for pupils returning after the holidays after maintenance staff were able to carry out repair work.
Before Christmas most of the schools closed because of the heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Local VEC project oversight ‘defective’ [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 31 December 2010
The money formed the bulk of a €215,986 bill for the three-year lease of equipment to Glanmire Community College who eventually lost €161,990 when MVS went out of business and CCVEC was called on to meet the repayments.
The matter only came to light after an anonymous tip-off to the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee and was harshly criticised by the Department of Education. Mr Buckley subsequently investigated the deal and his report has found there were a number of areas in which the procedures of the school and VEC were deficient.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
Waterford school still in prefab 25 years later [IrishTimes]
- Published: 30 December 2010
A PRIMARY SCHOOL in Co Waterford whose pupils have to take physical education classes outside in “all conditions” because of a lack of facilities is still holding classes in prefabricated buildings 25 years after it opened.
Management of Gaelscoil Philib Barún in Crobally Upper in Tramore wants the Department of Education to replace its prefabs with buildings.
Daithí de Paor, principal at the school, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in October, said: “We’re on the permanent building list with 1,200 other schools and our project is not being progressed.
“We had to do our Christmas plays in makeshift classrooms – walking a half mile to a rented hall, even for rehearsals. And we’ve never done PE inside, even in this weather . . . in all conditions,” Mr de Paor said. “This school has been in situ here for 25 years and this is something that’s quite particular to primary schools around the country,” he added.
He said that earlier this year the school sought a meeting with Minister for Education Mary Coughlan and was told by the Department of Education that it was “premature” to meet with them, though the school has been waiting for facilities for so long.
“We wrote again recently asking for a meeting with the Minister but all we got back was a letter of acknowledgement,” he said.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
