Tánaiste urges students to apply early for grants [education.ie]
- Published: 24 May 2010
'Early announcement, simplified forms and streamlined process should result in quicker turn-around for students'- Tánaiste
The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Ms. Mary Coughlan T.D., today announced details of the student maintenance grant schemes for the coming academic year.
This year's schemes include a number of significant administrative and service improvements aimed at ensuring students getting their grant entitlement on time. The changes include:
Early announcement of the 2010 schemes and application form to facilitate students in making an early application;
New more user-friendly student grant application form for 2010/11;
Downloadable student grant application form; and
New payments process, including advance payments to awarding authorities.
Full Story: www.education.ie
Price hike will force thousands off school bus [Independent.ie]
- Published: 24 May 2010
THOUSANDS of school children could be forced out of the school bus system if the Government pursues ticket price hikes, it has been claimed.
Proposals to charge parents €500 a year for their children to use the school bus are headed for the negotiating table again in early preparations for the December Budget.
The An Bord Snip report by economist Colm McCarthy previously proposed bus fees should be hiked to €500.
Families living in rural areas whose children use the bus scheme already suffered an increase last September when the charges rose from €168 to €300.
The school transport scheme, which is operated by Bus Eireann on behalf of the Department of Education, takes over 125,000 children to school a day.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Bullying can be good for children [timesonline.co.uk]
- Published: 23 May 2010
A LITTLE childhood bullying may be good for you. Researchers have found that if boys or girls are able to stand up for themselves, being attacked by enemies can help their development.
Studies have shown that children become more popular among, and respected by, teachers and fellow pupils if they repay hostility in kind. They remember such experiences more vividly than friendly episodes, helping them to develop healthy social and emotional skills.
The research shows that while bullying is not always character-building, there can be advantages to being shouted at, or ostracised on Facebook.
Full Story: www.timesonline.co.uk
Row over school bus fees [timesonline.co.uk]
- Published: 23 May 2010
A budget row is brewing between Brian Lenihan, the finance minister, and Mary Coughlan, his education counterpart, over a proposal to charge all pupils €500 a year to use the school bus.
In preliminary budget talks with department of finance colleagues next month, education officials will resist plans for the transport charge proposed in the report on public spending cuts last year.
Second-level students currently pay €300 a year and primary schoolchildren travel for free as part of the €192m scheme to bring 135,000 students to school every day.
Full Story: www.timesonline.co.uk
Teacher unions split over public pay agreement [Independent.ie]
- Published: 23 May 2010
THE country's largest teachers' union has voted by an overwhelming margin of 65 per cent to 35 per cent -- or nearly two to one -- in favour of acceptance of the Croke Park Agreement on public service pay and reform.
The ballot by post of the INTO's 32,000 strong membership produced a 66 per cent turnout -- some 13,655 members voted to accept the agreement while 7,273 rejected the proposals.
The acceptance of the Croke Park Agreement by the country's largest teacher union will come as a welcome boost for the Government as it seeks to bring further stability to the public finances.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
