Junior Cert 8-subject limit put off for 2 years [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 21 October 2011
THE introduction of an eight-subject limit to the Junior Certificate is to be put back for two years following concerns by teachers and parents, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn told second-level principals yesterday.
In a reversal of his plans that the limit would take effect for students starting second level next September, the plan will now beintroduced along with wider reforms of the junior cycle planned for those entering first year in 2014.
However, Mr Quinn told the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) annual conference that he wants all schools that can do so to introduce the eight-subject limit next year or in 2013.
The decision means all the changes recently proposed to him by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), including the replacement of the Junior Cert with a new qualification, will not come into effect until the exam class of 2017.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
Using the internet to spread education throughout Africa [IrishTimes]
- Published: 21 October 2011
WILD GEESE: EMIGRANT BUSINESS LEADERS ON OPPORTUNITIES ABROAD : BACK IN the 1980s, the most sophisticated piece of computer you found in an Irish classroom was one-third the power of a mobile phone, used cassette tapes and took about 15 minutes to get going.
“It was daft to think that schools would use them,” says Jerome Morrissey, former principal of Ballyfermot College of Further Education and recently retired director of the National Centre for Technology in Education at Dublin City University.
“But it was because of some pioneers in the classroom – teachers who believed in the future of technology and its relevance to learning and teaching – that we have taken such strides in becoming an information economy in Ireland. The ICT-related skills acquired as part of our education provision was a significant contributor to Ireland becoming a world hub for the ICT industry – practically all the world-class ICT companies have significant presences in Ireland.”
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Progressing Disability Services for Children & Young People
- Published: 21 October 2011
The Progressing Disability Services for Children & Young People programme page on the Change Hub at www.hseland.ie is designed for all who have a role to play in progressing disability services for children and young people.
The programme’s resource repository has recently been updated and a large number of new resources have been added. The resources have been organised in the following categories:
• Information Category - A presentation setting out the background, objectives and structure of the project is available in the information category. Local groups, holding parents' information meetings, may find this presentation useful as it sets out relevant information regarding the programme
• Structure Guidelines Category - A working group of the national co-ordinating group has produced the final version of the guidelines for local implementation groups on developing a governance structure and policies for children’s disability services. The guidelines are now available in the structure guidelines category.
• Library - Existing Service Documents drawing on the practical experience and expertise of existing services, this large collection of policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines have been collated from existing providers of children’s' disability services for sharing and possible adaptation by any individual service. Click on Catalogue of Policies, Procedures, Protocols and Guidelines to view a listing of the contents in this category.
• Library - Additional Reading & Resources: These reports, documents and articles, many of which are referenced in the guidelines for local implementation groups on developing a governance structure and policies for children’s disability services, have been gathered together for ease of access. They include national and international policy and strategy documents, as well as some relevant research articles. Click on Catalogue of Additional Reading & Resources to view a listing of the contents in this category
To access the resources, select 'Progressing Children’s Disability Service's from the re-configuration. Resources dropdown menu at the top right of the screen. Select the relevant category in the Resource Repository and click on the resource you require.
Ofsted asks parents to rate schools [newsletter.co.uk]
- Published: 20 October 2011
Parents are to be asked to rate schools on issues such as homework and bullying, it has been announced.
Ofsted has launched a new website designed to give parents the chance to air their views anonymously on their child's school.
The Parent View online questionnaire asks parents to give opinions on 12 different statements, ranging from "my child is happy at this school" to "my child receives appropriate homework for their age" and "this school deals effectively with bullying". It also asks if parents would recommend their child's school to another parent.
Those completing the questionnaire are asked to say how strongly they agree or disagree with the statements, and visitors will be able to look at the responses for each question for individual schools. But some teaching unions have raised concerns that allowing parents to rate schools anonymously leaves the site open to abuse.
Full Story: www.newsletter.co.uk
Fermoy school brings bus protest to Dáil [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 20 October 2011
A CHURCH of Ireland school community brought their protest over the withdrawal of a school bus to the Dáil, claiming the move threatens parents’ constitutional right to the choice of a denominational education.
An appeal is due to be heard today into the loss of the bus service, which Fermoy Adair National School says is unjustified and should be reversed. It is one of 103 primary schools and 14 second level schools where a bus route was taken away from last month because the school did not have the minimum 10 pupils living at least 3.2 kilometres away.
Part of the criteria in the Department of Education school transport scheme, operated by Bus Éireann, is that those pupils should be living in a distinct locality.
While there were 10 children for whom applications were submitted, the department said it has been told by Bus Éireann that they live at scattered points to the north, south, east and west of the school.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
