Four Irish schools set to open in North [IrishTimes]
- Published: 30 July 2010
FOUR NEW Irish language primary schools will open in Northern Ireland in September, Education Minister Caitríona Ruane has announced.
The schools are Gaelscoil an tSeancha, Magherafelt; Gaelscoil na mBeann, Kilkeel; Gaelscoil Léim an Mhadaidh, Limavady; and Gaelscoil Choin Rí Uladh, Ballymena. The decision was made on the basis of growing demand for Irish language education, said Ms Ruane. Funding from the Department of Education will be conditional on the schools achieving admissions thresholds and proving their long-term viability.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Third bundle of PPP schools to be offered to the market - Tánaiste [education.ie]
- Published: 29 July 2010
The delivery of new accommodation for eight schools has moved a step closer today with the announcement by the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD, that the 3rd Bundle of schools to be provided via Public Private Partnership (PPP) is now ready to be offered to the market.
The eight schools are:
Post-primary
Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny, Co Donegal: to provide a permanent school for the gaelcholáiste established in 2000;
Ballinamore Community School, Co Leitrim: arising from the amalgamation of Fatima and Felim’s Secondary School and Ballinamore Vocational School;
Doughiska Community College, Co Galway: new school for a rapidly growing population in the Doughiska area. It will be provided on a shared campus with the new primary school - see below;
Gorey, Co Wexford: new school for a rapidly growing population in the Gorey area;
Tramore Secondary School, Co Waterford: arising from the amalgamation of CBS Tramore and Stella Maris School;
Athlone Community College, Co Westmeath: replacement of the current building;
Doon /Cappamore Secondary School, Co Limerick: arising from the amalgamation of St. Fintan's Doon, St. Joseph's Doon and Colaiste Phobal Mhichil Cappamore
Full Story: www.education.ie
NUI Galway professor tells conference schools are struggling to stop cyberbullying [advertiser.ie]
- Published: 29 July 2010
NUI Galway professor Keith Sullivan who is attached to the school of education has said that the problem of cyberbullying is escalating in our schools, and it is difficult to stop due to the anonymity of the perpetrator.
Speaking at the annual conference of the International School of Psychology Association in Dublin recently Prof Sullivan identified key areas which were allowing the problem of cyberbullying to grow.
Prof Sullivan blamed the ease with which bullys can use the internet 24 hours a day to harass and intimidate their victims, and he also said that the language being used online was not familiar to adults and this was a problem.
A recently released survey has revealed that more than one in four boys in Ireland say they have been bullied while one in five girls say they have been victims of bullying.
Full Story: www.advertiser.ie
Church to lose some school patronages [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 29 July 2010
THE Government has drawn up controversial plans to remove the Catholic Church as the patron of some national schools across the country.
The Department of Education and Skills has recently given the Catholic Church a list of areas in which it wants the hierarchy to divest itself of the patronage of national primary schools.
It is understood that over 30 areas — the majority in the greater Dublin region — have been identified by the department for a change of patronage amid growing calls for greater diversity in educational provision. The Catholic Church is currently patron of approximately 92% of the state’s schools at primary level.
Teachers will be promoted on merit in shake-up [Independent.ie]
- Published: 29 July 2010
A major shake-up in how teachers are promoted is being introduced from September, the Irish Independent has learned.
The days are gone when the person with the longest service was in pole position for middle- management posts worth up to €8,520 extra per year.
The new selection process will bring a major culture change in how jobs are awarded in schools.
Coupled with the moratorium on filling many of these posts, it could make the promotion and associated pay rise more elusive for many long-serving teachers.
The traditional system allowed teachers to predict when to expect promotion, based on projected retirement dates for those ahead of them.
In the future, criteria such as interpersonal and communications skills will carry as much weight as seniority.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
