What is a fair way to pay for a third level education? [belfasttelegraph.co.uk]
- Published: 15 December 2010
That sympathy is certainly being tested by scenes of youthful nihilism, which last week accompanied anti-fees demonstrations in London and Belfast. The students' arguments are undermined whenever a minority of protesters misbehave.
'Anarchists' and others aren't representative of the vast bulk of students, whose anxieties about the future of third level education in the UK are well-founded.
Some protest organisers, though, are decidedly ambivalent in their condemnations of misbehaviour. It has been a frequent refrain that while acts of vandalism are wrong, they are also 'understandable'. The National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts, for instance, advocates 'direct action', which even if it were non-violent, risks provoking trouble.
There's little doubt the hysterical tenor of the protests is impeding a more fundamental debate about who has a right to third level education and how it should be funded.
Full Story: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
No reforms but 'benchmarking ATM' still delivering [Independent.ie]
- Published: 15 December 2010
THE benchmarking 'ATM machine' continues to deliver the cash, almost a decade after the controversial report that was supposed to balance public and private sector pay and achieve major reform in the delivery of services in return.
Senator Joe O'Toole told primary teachers' union activists that getting an increase from the benchmarking body was the equivalent of walking up to an ATM machine.
At the time, the INTO leader was rubbishing the attempt of the secondary teachers union, ASTI, to achieve a catch-up pay rise of 30pc outside of benchmarking. But the phrase summed up the view of the public sector of the benchmarking exercise as a means merely to get a wage rise -- not fundamental changes of work practices.
The benchmarking awards were supposed to be made in return for major reforms.
The programme provided wage increases of an average of 9pc in 2002, costing the taxpayer €1.1bn per annum.
It wasn't a once-off payment. It was a permanent increase.
But the individual reform plans were so watery, they showed contempt for the taxpayers' outlay.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Phoebe’s school settles case with parents [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 15 December 2010
Six now former students of South Hadley High School in Massachusetts face criminal charges linked to the alleged physical and verbal abuse of Phoebe in the weeks and days leading up to her suicide in January this year.
It has also emerged that federal prosecutors are investigating the events leading up to Phoebe’s death and what happened after, including allegations that handwritten notes detailing the harassment and bullying were destroyed.
The 15-year-old, who moved to the US from Co Clare, killed herself just hours after being subjected to vicious abuse in front of dozens of her fellow students, one of the final acts of a virulent campaign lasting weeks, according to prosecutors.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
€20m to aid apprentices’ training [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 15 December 2010
The Government is to pay wages of up to €450 to unemployed apprentices who are taken on by firms to complete their training. This is approximately €100 less than is currently paid on some Fás apprentice schemes, which is covered by the employer.
Up to 1,000 unemployed apprentices will now be able to take part in the supported placement scheme.
Ms Coughlan also gave details of several other initiatives, some of which were announced as part of the budget, including a new internship programme.
In this participants will take part in 12-month work placements. The schemes are to be administered by Fás.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
Diary of a schoolteacher: Caught in a trap as my security man exerts a vice-like grip [Independent.ie]
- Published: 15 December 2010
One of our German teachers, Fergal Madden, has decided to bring forward the annual transition year trip to Germany so that the kids get to see the famous Christmas markets.
I successfully cadge a berth for myself on this year's foray to Hamburg, where in past years we had managed to arrange an exchange with a local school.
Obviously that was never going to last with this school.
Accompanying us two educators and this group of twenty pupils is the chairperson of the parents' committee, Mrs Sheila Keaveney, who also happens to be mother of evil genius, Dan Keaveney. How such a nice and normal woman could produce such a twisted little fiend is beyond me.
However, things get off to a promising start when the first evening we agree that Mrs Keaveney and Madden will take the big group of demanding girls to a Shopping Centre while I am given the less onerous task of keeping the five boys entertained-- including Dan who has been in Hamburg before on the last exchange and thus knows his way around.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
