Special needs cull 'will hurt vulnerable' [Independent.ie]
- Published: 08 November 2010
HUNDREDS of special needs assistants (SNAs) face losing their jobs under the forthcoming draconian Budget.
The number of SNAs could be cut by up to 5pc -- a move that would affect the country's "most vulnerable" children, according to trade unions and disability groups.
There are more than 10,000 assistants providing one-to-one help to children with special needs in our primary schools.
But the Department of Education is concerned that some SNAs are being used for secretarial support and maintenance duties because the pupil they assisted has now left the school.
As part of its efforts to cut €230m from its €8bn-plus education budget, the department is anxious to weed out the SNAs no longer required in individual schools without wielding the axe across all schools indiscriminately.
"There was an open cheque-book during the boom for this area, but it can't be maintained now," one source said.
Moves to reduce the number of SNAs comes only a year after some 100 special needs classes were removed from the system.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Schools warned over major health and safety risks [Independent.ie]
- Published: 07 November 2010
SEVEN schools have been served with enforcement notices because of the health-and-safety risks posed to staff and pupils.
Five primary schools have been served with improvement notices by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) since 2009. Two secondary schools received prohibition notices that put certain areas of the buildings out of bounds to both students and teachers.
The HSA has refused to identify the seven schools. But the fact that the statutory agency has taken enforcement action indicates there were serious health-and-safety risks.
The news will further embarrass the Minister for Education, Mary Coughlan, after last week's disclosure that up to €340m which had been earmarked for dilapidated school buildings this year remains unspent. That revelation prompted protests from several school principals who cited rat infestations, sewerage odours and damp as amongst the dangerous conditions that have been endured by pupils for years.
Some of the worst affected schools are Gaelscoileanna, many of which are housed in prefabs while awaiting funds to build permanent schools.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
168 inspection reports published on Department's website [education.ie]
- Published: 04 November 2010
A total of 168 school inspection-reports were published today on the Department of Education and Skills' website. New inspection reports on the web today include
- 43 whole-school evaluations (WSE) at primary level
- 4 whole-school evaluations at post-primary level, including 13 subject inspections
- 102 stand-alone subject inspections
- 1 programme evaluation (WSE) at post-primary level
- 3 stand-alone programme evaluations
- 2 evaluations of Centres for Education
Since 6th February 2006, school inspection reports such as WSE and subject Inspections are published on the Department of Education and Skills' website at regular intervals throughout the school year.
There are now 4,030 school-inspection reports on the website, representative of 1,831 schools or centres for education.
Whole-school evaluation reports comment on the school's management, planning and management of resources; the effectiveness of teaching and learning; its arrangements for student assessment, supports for students, provision for minority groups and home-school links.
Full Story: www.education.ie
Tánaiste says significant capital monies being invested in Education - Dept of Education and Skills achieving best value for taxpayers' money [education.ie]
- Published: 04 November 2010
The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD, has today outlined the capital spending projections of her Department for 2010.
In excess of €450 million has already been spent this year from the capital budget. This week alone, €24 million is issuing for ICT grants in primary schools. This ties in with the normal pattern of higher spending in the final quarter.
In total, it is expected that by the end of 2010, 53 new schools will have commenced on site this year. This compares to projects for 34 schools going on site last year and is therefore a 56% increase in on-site commencements compared to last year.
The substantial reduction in construction prices has meant that the Department is achieving greater value for taxpayers' money. Contract prices are now sometimes up to 40% lower than when they were at their peak and a significant proportion of this is an additional reduction on 2009 average prices. Furthermore, difficulties within the construction industry linked to very low tender prices are creating delays, for example, confirmation of the availability of a bond prior to a contract being awarded is taking much more time. In addition, the costs of sites have been reducing and there have also been some delays in completing planned site transactions arising from legal and planning issues.
Full Story: www.education.ie
Tánaiste announces €24m in grants for high-tech classrooms in 3,300 Primary Schools [education.ie]
- Published: 03 November 2010
Almost 3,300 primary schools across the country are to get €24 million in grants for high-tech equipment over the coming days as part of the Government's strategy to make technology an integral part of the learning process, according to the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD.
Primary schools throughout the country will each receive a block grant of €1,700 and a payment of €35.70 per capita, which will enable the schools to purchase equipment.
DEIS schools will receive a higher basic grant of €2,550.
To ensure efficient use of these grants, primary school principals attended nationwide seminars this year on eLearning Planning and all schools received detailed supports on developing and implementing eLearning plans.
Announcing the move at the Central Model School in Dublin this morning, the Tánaiste said: "The provision of ICT funding to schools is a key component in the implementation of recommendations of the Smart Schools = Smart Economy Report.
"The Government recognises the need for investment in this area and is committed to providing funding to support the integration of information communications technology in teaching and learning in our schools.
"Primary schools will be asked to ensure that the recommended baseline equipment of a teaching computer with wireless mouse and keyboard, and a fixed digital projector is installed in every classroom.
"This is in line with the recommendations in the Smart Schools = Smart Economy Report.
Full Story: www.education.ie
