Numbers at Gaelscoileanna soar [Independent.ie]
- Published: 02 September 2010
THE number of pupils attending all-Irish primary schools in south Dublin has doubled since 2001.
But this increase has not been matched by the creation of additional places at second level, it was claimed yesterday.
"There is massive unmet demand for Irish language second-level education in South Dublin," said Lugh O Braonain, spokesperson for the campaign to set up a new school, Bunchoiste Gaelcholaiste Dheisceart Atha Cliath.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
One in five primary pupils sit in classes of 30 or more [Independent.ie]
- Published: 02 September 2010
COMMUTER-belt children are bearing the brunt of a growth spurt in primary school class sizes.
More than one in five primary school children -- almost 107,000 pupils -- are now in classes of 30 or more.
This 21pc figure is up from 19pc a year ago, when 93,000 pupils were in large classes.
The overcrowding is worst in areas within striking distance of Dublin and other cities, which grew rapidly during the boom.
Co Carlow tops the list, with almost one in three of its primary pupils in classes of 30 or more, followed closely by Co Kilkenny.
At the other end of the scale are counties Tipperary, Kerry and Mayo, with the lowest proportion of pupils in big classes.
Class sizes have started to rise again as a result of teacher cutbacks announced by the Government in late 2008.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Heaney and Ballagh set benchmark for creativity [Independent.ie]
- Published: 02 September 2010
IT was the first day back in class for two creative schoolboys as poet Seamus Heaney and artist Robert Ballagh unveiled their latest creation.
The bench, which was designed by Ballagh and holds two bronze plaques inscribed with a Heaney poem in both English and braille, was installed in a garden at St Joseph's Centre for the Visually Impaired in Drumcondra, Dublin, yesterday.
It was unveiled as part of celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of the National Braille Production Centre, which is housed in the grounds of the school and is currently transcribing thousands of textbooks to be used by 410 students around the country.
New class size figures show damage done to education system [labour.ie]
- Published: 01 September 2010
Labour Party Spokesperson on Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairi Quinn, has said that the revelation by the Department of Education and Skills that 107,000 primary school children are in classes with over 30 pupils highlights the damaging impacts cutbacks are having in our primary schools.
“15,000 additional students are attending primary school in our overcrowded and under-funded education system since last year’s survey was published.
“This is the real evidence of the government’s strategy to repeatedly cut public spending. Fianna Fáil have not only wrecked the economy, they are seriously damaging our education system too.
Full Story: www.labour.ie
New Ratoath gaelscoil opens despite lack of official recognition [meathchronicle.ie]
- Published: 01 September 2010
Gaelscoil Ráth Tó, the unofficial Irish-language primary school for Ratoath, opened its doors on Monday, without State recognition or funding from the Government. Ten new pupils started on Monday, with spaces still available for any prospective attendees.
Opening day comes two years after efforts first began to establish such a school in Ratoath, and a nationwide campaign began this spring by a number of Irish-language organisations to pressurise the Department of Education to recognise the school officially.
Establishing committee chairperson Anita Sheppard said: "The school will be funded purely by voluntary donations by Irish-language organisations both in Ireland and abroad, from various community supporters and from fundraising conducted by the school's authorities and parents."
Full Story: www.meathchronicle.ie
