Dublin school to spearhead 'digital satchel' programme [tribune.ie]
- Published: 30 September 2010
A Dublin secondary school is to spearhead a pilot programme which would make bulky schoolbags ? which can weigh over two stone ? a thing of the past.
Mount Temple Comprehensive on the Clontarf Road is due to receive a shipment of USB keys which will contain pupils' textbooks and copies. The pupils will be able to read their books and complete exercises on classroom computers, and submit homework via email or printed copy.
The co-educational second-level school is the first to test the scheme. If it proves successful, there are hopes the initiative will be imitated across the country. A spokesman for the school was unavailable for comment.
Full Story: www.tribune.ie
Education (Amendment) Bill 2010 [education.ie]
- Published: 30 September 2010
The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills publishes the Education (Amendment) Bill 2010 - paving the way for VEC involvement in primary education and making a number of other important changes to the Education and Teaching Council Acts
The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD, today published the Education (Amendment) Bill which provides for a legislative framework to allow Vocational Education Committees to become involved in primary education provision.
Publishing the Education (Amendment) Bill, the Tánaiste said 'The changing shape of Irish society is placing new and complex demands on our education system in responding to the diverse needs of our communities.
'A new model of community national school, which is being piloted in two locations in Dublin since September 2008 and three further locations in Counties Dublin, Kildare and Meath since September 2010, seeks to meet the need for a new form of plurality of education provision within the framework of a single school setting.
Full Story: www.education.ie
64 inspection reports published on Department's website [education.ie]
- Published: 30 September 2010
A total of 64 school inspection-reports were published today (30 September, 2010) on the Department of Education and Skills' website. New inspection reports on the web today include
- 23 whole-school evaluations (WSE) at primary level
- 5 whole-school evaluations at post-primary level, including 16 subject inspections
- 18 stand-alone subject inspections
- 1 programme evaluation (WSE) at post-primary level
- 1 stand-alone programme evaluations
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 3,862 school-inspection reports on the website, representative of 1,678 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
Tips for the new school year [advertiser.ie]
- Published: 30 September 2010
One of the most important factors in a child’s success at school is the support he gets at home. As a parent, you have an important role to play in facilitating, encouraging, and preparing the way for your child to achieve academic happiness.
Succeeding in school makes school and learning a happier experience for your child.
Tips for parents
Encourage your child to be positive about school life and work.
Be on time. For the first weeks in particular, and indeed throughout your child’s school career, it is important that you are on time when picking him up from school.
Develop a good routine. Over the first few weeks of school, work at developing a good routine. Make sure your child is getting enough sleep — the first term at school can be particularly tiring for your child as he encounters new experiences and tries to adjust to a new routine. Try to ensure that your child has a regular bedtime and make a conscious effort to stick to it.
Pay attention to your child’s nutrition. Your child will need nutritious snacks and lunch for school, and will also need regular meal times at home. Again, the routine is important as it adds to your child’s sense of security and wellbeing.
Full Story: www.advertiser.ie
Why it's really time to mind our languages in schools [Independent.ie]
- Published: 29 September 2010
Irish jobseekers and businesses are losing out because of their poor grasp of foreign languages. While much of the recent attention in education has focused on poor performance in maths and science, the tongue-tied nature of the Irish curriculum is now causing concern.
Figures from the European Commission show that Irish primary schools have the lowest levels of foreign language tuition in Europe.
And the recent OECD report 'Education at a Glance' showed that the amount of hours devoted to languages at second-level in Ireland is around half the average, at 7pc.
The language shortfall has not gone unnoticed.
Paul Sweetman, director of ICT Ireland, a body that represents employers in the computer sector, says: "A lot of our members are now talking about the need for employees with language skills in order to market their products effectively.''
Full Story: www.independent.ie
