Expensive schools admission system a scam by any other name [IrishTimes]
- Published: 06 June 2010
OPINION: The rebirth of our society could start with a free admissions system for children regardless of means, writes AILISH CONNELLY
DIG DEEP mamas and papas, it’s that time of year. Chances are many of you will have already opened the cheque books merely to get your child on to lists for second-level schools of your choice.
By now you could be down several thousand euro and counting, and even those of you who wouldn’t or couldn’t dream of sending your child to a fee-paying school will be forking out substantial sums. Public schools are just as capable of using the application process as a money-making racket to boost their coffers.
It’s a bit of a hobby horse of mine, busy as I am writing cheques, hoping to sign the daughter up to a reasonable secondary school. She is in fourth class and won’t present her pretty self to any second-level school until September 2012, another 28 months away.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Lessons In Life [tribune.ie]
- Published: 06 June 2010
The beloved teachers depicted in Dead Poets Society and Goodbye, Mr Chips have, it seems, been replaced in the public imagination by holiday-hungry, public-sector grumps. But teachers' pay has dropped (by 14% if you count the pension levy), class sizes are growing, and anecdotally it appears that older teachers, fearful of possible pension cuts, are retiring early. In this context the Croke park public-sector pay deal has been rejected by two of the teachers' unions (the TUI and the ASTI), the sector is raging, and those outside it seem surprisingly unsympathetic.
Full Story: www.tribune.ie
Minister must act to reduce energy bills for schools [labour.ie]
- Published: 06 June 2010
Education Minister Mary Coughlan is failing to take any action to implement a simple idea that could save schools substantial sums of money.
For many schools, energy bills are the single biggest item of expense throughout the year, and any steps that could be taken to reduce these costs would be welcome. As a school principal, I am all too aware of the severe financial pressures that schools operate under.
Unfortunately, while electricity and gas bills can be substantial in the context of a school's budget, a school is nothing more than a small-scale customer as far as companies like ESB and Bord Gais are concerned, and as such they have little or no leverage when it comes to negotiating a better deal.
However, on an aggregate basis, the amount of energy that the school sector consumes is massive, and if this purchasing power could be pooled, it would mean that the Minister, or some central agency could negotiate with the producers and get better value for money for schools.
Full Story: www.labour.ie
Just the tonic Roisin joins in medical first [Independent.ie]
- Published: 04 June 2010
Roisin Osborne and John O'Flynn were short of points in their Leaving Certificate to get their top college choice of medicine -- but it hasn't stopped them becoming doctors.
They are among a new breed of second-chance medicine students who will be bringing more to the job than what years in medical school have taught them. Roisin, from Sandycove, Co Dublin, and John, from Inniscarra, Co Cork, were among the first graduate-entry medicine students to be conferred at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) yesterday.
Having missed out on medicine in 2002, Roisin studied Spanish and Economics, at Trinity College, Dublin. Although not her first choice, the 26-year-old said: "They were subjects I was really interested in."
Also in 2002, when John (26) found himself short 15 points for medicine, he plumped for chemical engineering, at University College, Cork (UCC).
Tánaiste opens €380,000 extension at Scoil Náisiúnta Cholmcille, Fintown [education.ie]
- Published: 04 June 2010
The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD, today opened a new €380,000 extension at Scoil Náisiúnta Cholmcille, Fintown, Co Donegal.
The school was allocated €380,000 as part of the 2007 Small Schools Scheme, enabling it to build a new classroom, a resource room, library, office and a multipurpose room, and to refurbish the existing school.
Speaking at the school, the Tánaiste said parents and the local community had worked tirelessly to progress the project.
'This extension and refurbishment project would not have happened without the dedication and hard work of many people here today. I know how proud the local community is here and how much they value the role this school plays in daily life.
'Scoil Cholmcille has a strong tradition in singing, drama and GAA, the latter being a particular passion of the school principal, Seaghan MacLaifeartaigh.
Full Story: www.education.ie
