Student fee increase and teacher cuts planned [IrishTimes]
- Published: 25 November 2010
INCREASES IN student charges and the prospect of a new student loan scheme are the most striking features of the four-year plan in the education sector.
But the most controversial proposals are likely to be those which will see dramatic cuts in the number of resource, language support and Traveller support teachers. The INTO claimed last night that 700 jobs would be lost in a “shocking move which targets the most disadvantaged and marginalised”.
A 5 per cent cut has also been imposed on adult literacy programmes and the school completion programme which assists “at risk’’ pupils.
While there will be no cuts in class size in 2011, the plan holds out the prospect of significant cuts in teacher numbers, despite the projected increase in school numbers at primary and second level.
The student contribution fee will be €2,000 from next September, an increase of 33 per cent on the current €1,500 student registration charge.
But the plan also hints that a new student loan scheme could run from about 2012. Minister for Education Mary Coughlan said various options will be considered.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Appeal body has power to reject school's ban [IrishTimes]
- Published: 24 November 2010
A FIVE-JUDGE Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that a Department of Education appeals committee has the power to overturn a school board of management’s refusal to enrol two pupils.
The board of management of St Molaga’s national school, Balbriggan, Dublin, refused in February 2008 to enrol the two girls, who had just moved to the area.
That decision was made in circumstances where the board had decided in March 2007 the school was full to capacity. By February 2008 it had refused to enrol 41 other children due to lack of proper permanent accommodation. At that time it had 25 pupils more than provided for in the department’s guidelines.
The parents of the two girls, who have since gone to another school, appealed the refusal. An appeals committee of the department allowed this, and the department secretary general directed the school to enrol the girls.
The board appealed that direction to the High Court, and in February 2009 won a High Court order overturning the direction as “irrational” and unlawful.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Reform of teacher training to focus on literacy and maths [eircom.net]
- Published: 24 November 2010
They include a renewed focus on schools and teachers continually assessing pupils' literacy and numeracy in order to target resources and assistance at pupils who need most help.
The biggest move proposed by the Tánaiste is the extension of the Bachelor of Education (B Ed) degree, by which most primary teachers qualify from three to four years, with a revised focus on teaching literacy and numeracy. For second-level teachers, the Higher Diploma in Education course is to be extended from 18 months to two years.
Earlier this year, leading educationalist Dr Andy Burke described many aspects of the training programmes for primary teachers as dysfunctional, largely due to just 17 weeks being spent in classrooms before graduates begin their careers. He said the shortness of the B Ed course was harmful to student teachers' professional development and suggested the creation of a four-year degree.
This echoed a 2001 expert group on primary teacher training to the Department of Education, something previous education minister Mary Hanafin said in 2006 was not necessary.
Full Story: www.eircom.net
Government outlines €690m in education cuts [rte.ie]
- Published: 24 November 2010
Cuts to the education budget totalling €690m were announced today as part of the four-year plan.
Capitation grants to schools and other programmes, such as Youthreach and Adult Literacy programmes, will be reduced by 5%.
Student fees will be increased to €2,000 a year, up from €1,600, while a €200 charge will be introduced for post Leaving Certificate students.
Unspecified cuts will be made in student grants to yield a total saving of €51m in 2011.
The non-pay grant to third-level colleges will be cut by 5%.
The number of educational psychologists will be capped at 178, while teacher numbers will be reduced by 'a combination of measures.'
As with all entrants to public service, there will be a 10% salary reduction for new teachers.
Full Story: www.rte.ie
Training plan seeks to improve teaching standards [IrishTimes]
- Published: 24 November 2010
MAJOR CHANGES in teacher training from 2012 have been unveiled by Minister for Education Mary Coughlan to boost literacy and maths skills in Irish schools.
The initiative comes after a new report found over 14 per cent of English and mathematics lessons were unsatisfactory. The report, based on unannounced inspections by the Department of Education, is critical of teaching standards in many schools.
It found that teacher preparation for classes was unsatisfactory for 25 per cent of all lessons. It also says teacher assessment of pupils was unsatisfactory in 33 per cent of cases.
A separate report by the Educational Research Centre at St Patrick’s teacher training college in Dublin identified weaknesses in primary school pupils’ comprehension of English. It also highlighted poor performance in problem-solving in maths at primary level.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
