Chief Inspector launches Inspectorate Report on English and Mathematics [education.ie]
- Published: 23 November 2010
The Chief Inspector, Department of Education and Skills, Dr. Harold Hislop, today launched the Inspectorate report, Incidental Inspection Findings 2010.
The report, which focuses on the quality of teaching and learning of English and mathematics in Irish primary schools, is based on the outcomes of unannounced (incidental) inspections completed in over 450 schools throughout all parts of the country between October 2009 and October 2010.
In launching the report, the Chief Inspector stated that the inspectors' findings, based on the evaluation of more than 800 English lessons and over 500 mathematics lessons, provided an excellent snapshot of the quality of teaching and learning in these two subjects.
He said, "It is heartening to be able to report that there were many strengths in the teaching of English and mathematics in the majority of the classrooms inspected."
He noted that most aspects of teachers' work were satisfactory or better in over four-fifths of the lessons in each of these subjects.
However, he went on to say: "I am particularly concerned about the significant proportion of lessons – over 14% – in both English and mathematics where the learning experiences provided for pupils were not satisfactory."
The report documents several strengths in the practices of teachers in the majority of the lessons observed.
Full Story: www.education.ie
Teaching course is spared in cutbacks [Independent.ie]
- Published: 22 November 2010
THE Government is not cutting back on the number of postgraduate places for primary teacher training, the Irish Independent has learnt.
Education Minister Mary Coughlan has given the go-ahead for 200 places on an annual postgraduate course, which starts in February.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) allows graduates from different disciplines to study for a further 18 months to become primary school teachers.
Education circles had been rife with fears that the current climate would have meant a reduction in the number of places available. Instead the go-ahead for the diploma is being taken as a signal that education may be spared the worst in the Budget.
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) welcomed the announcement, saying the move would calm fears.
An increase in the pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) in primary schools, which would mean fewer teachers, has been under discussion ahead of the Budget.
Any deterioration in PTR would mean reneging on a commitment given in the revised Programme for Government.
INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan said it sent a signal that the Government intended to honour the commitment on PTR in the Programme for Government.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Tánaiste announces €44m in grants for primary and post-primary schools - €36m for minor works in primary schools which includes €8m for playground and PE equipment €7.8m package for post-primary schools to renew PE equipment. [education.ie]
- Published: 22 November 2010
The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD, today announced details of €44 million in grants for primary and post-primary schools.
A €28 million minor works grant and a PE funding package of €8 million for 3,246 primary schools was announced along with a €7.8 million PE funding package for over 700 post-primary schools throughout the country.
Announcing the minor works grant for 2010/2011, the Tánaiste said that the rates payable are €5,500 per school plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil.
The grant for primary schools allows schools to carry out minor works without needing to deal directly with the Department.
The funds must be spent on the physical infrastructure of the school or on items of furniture and equipment for educational use including IT related equipment.
In addition, the Tánaiste announced details of the playground and PE equipment grant under which each primary school will receive a basic grant of €1,000 plus €10 per pupil.
The grant in the case of a 50-pupil primary school will be worth €1,500 and in the case of a 300-pupil primary school the grant will be €4,000.
Post-primary schools will receive a basic grant of €2,000 plus €20 per pupil in respect of PE equipment.
The grant in the case of a 200-student post-primary school will be worth €6,000 and in the case of a 500-student school the grant will be €12,000.
Full Story: www.education.ie
VEC spent €52,000 on windows for empty school [tribune.ie]
- Published: 21 November 2010
AN EDUCATION body was accused of wasting money after it spent €52,000 replacing windows in an empty building.
The money was spent fitting new windows in a vacant wing of a Portlaoise building owned by Laois VEC, which is not scheduled for use until at least July 2012.
Local activists said the money would have been better spent on education at a time when budgets are about to be slashed by the government.
Former councillor Michael Moloney said: "In the budget that is only weeks away, it is estimated the cut in education will be in the order of €400m.
"Yet in the very week that this information is laid before the public, we have a VEC installing new windows in an empty building
"This is happening while children around the country are being denied special needs hours within the same education system."
Anne O'Keeffe of Laois VEC said: "The building is the former vocational school in the centre of town, which houses a new Educate Together primary school.
Full Story: www.tribune.ie
Educate Together in Gorey 'concerned' [IrishTimes]
- Published: 18 November 2010
EDUCATE TOGETHER has expressed “deep disappointment” at a decision to award patronage of a new secondary school in Gorey to Wexford VEC.
Some 65 per cent of parents voted for the education authority in a consultation process.
Educate Together, the representative body for 58 primary schools across the State, said yesterday it would continue to campaign for Ireland’s first multi-denominational secondary school.
Its chief executive, Paul Rowe, said: “We are very concerned at this decision. Twenty out of the last 23 post-primary schools that the Department of Education has opened have been VEC schools, and the same has now happened in Gorey.”
Mr Rowe said the decision would do nothing to offer the parents of children in Gorey an additional choice of school as there were already three VEC community colleges available to them.
“We feel that is a serious setback for the 957 parents who expressed a preference for an Educate Together school.”
He said he would seek an immediate meeting with Minister for Education Mary Coughlan to discuss this matter and concerns about “ the transparency and independence of the process used for this decision”.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
