Minister Haughey opens new €4.5million state of the art St. Mary's National School in Thomastown [education.ie]
- Published: 18 June 2010
Seán Haughey TD, Minister for Lifelong Learning today opened a new state of the art school building at St Mary's National School, Ballyhack ,Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny.
The new facilities, which comprise 16 new classrooms and ancillary accommodation, was built at a cost of €4.5million and funded by the Department of Education and Skills.
The new school came about as a result of the amalgamation of the Convent of Mercy Primary School and Ladywell Boys' National School.
St. Mary's has a current enrolment of 412 pupils.
Speaking at the opening, Minister Haughey said 'It is my great privilege to join you here today in Thomastown to celebrate the opening of your fabulous new school.'
Full Story: www.education.ie
School bus price hikes 'will have negative impact on rural families' [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 18 June 2010
Increasing the cost of school bus passes could force families to look for alternative means of transport, it has been claimed.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes said that proposals to raise the cost of transport to 500 euros per year for each child could also have serious safety implications.
He noted that the idea of a state school transport scheme is that youngsters arrive at school safe and on time.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
£15,000 payout for lesbian teacher [Independent.ie]
- Published: 17 June 2010
A special needs teacher who claimed she was discriminated against at Tor Bank School for being a lesbian was given a £15,000 payout, it has been disclosed.
Jill Young, 37, began working at the Dundonald school in September 2003. She blamed the principal for bullying and harassment and accused him of suggesting she should leave. She left after three years.
The South Eastern Education and Library Board agreed to pay the money without admitting liability.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
All colleges expected to give maths extra marks [Independent.ie]
- Published: 17 June 2010
Four universities have backed the idea of bonus points for maths and the other three are also expected to do so, but with misgivings.
The initial reaction -- even if lukewarm -- is welcome news for Education Minister Mary Coughlan, who is pushing the maths agenda.
TCD vice-provost and chief academic officer Professor Patrick Prendergast said the university council favoured a 'weighting' of 40pc to recognise the extra work required by students taking higher level maths.
This would mean a student who earned maximum points for higher level maths would get an extra 40 for admission purposes for any course -- in other words, 140 points instead of 100.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Five year olds sex education call [belfasttelegraph.co.uk]
- Published: 17 June 2010
Good quality classes on sex, relationships and alcohol help youngsters to understand the risks and consequences of their actions and resist peer pressure, according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice).
Research shows that two-fifths of young people rate sex education in their school as poor or very poor, it said.
In draft guidance published, Nice said that sex and relationships education is "more effective if it is introduced before young people first have sex".
Full Story: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
