Coughlan hopeful church may shed some schools [IrishTimes]
- Published: 20 May 2010
MINISTER FOR Education Mary Coughlan said she hoped to see the Catholic Church divesting itself of some its schools on a trial basis.
She recalled the issue was originally raised by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin in the context of the overall number of primary schools in his Dublin archdiocese.
“I am hopeful that the outcome of the discussions with the Catholic Church will lead to the trialling of divesting arrangements and we can then learn from this,” Ms Coughlan added. “It may be that it is successful in some areas and may not work in others.”
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Church demands €2m fees from national schools [Independent.ie]
- Published: 20 May 2010
CATHOLIC primary schools are furious after being hit with a new €2m-per-year demand for money from the church.
Cash-strapped principals say that, instead of the church subsidising them, they are now being asked to subsidise the church.
The new request for cash has come from the Catholic Primary School Management Association (CPSMA), the Irish Independent has learned.
The body offers a management support service to almost 3,000 primary schools run by the Catholic Church.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
In my opinion: Involving business in schools benefits both sides [Independent.ie]
- Published: 19 May 2010
It is critical for Ireland and its drive to be a knowledge economy that young people have an understanding of the myriad of opportunities which exist for them and that they have a network they can utilise to find out the necessary information for any type of career.
A recent study from the ESRI has shown young people regret having left school early because they see their lack of qualifications as a barrier to employment.
The Schools' Business Partnership (SBP) programme was set up with the aim of assisting Government and the Department of Education & Science's strategy on educational inclusion and specifically in reducing the school drop-out rate.
It is a flagship initiative of Business in the Community Ireland, a non-profit organisation dedicated to corporate responsibility. The lead sponsor since 2001 has been Marks & Spencer Ireland. It is also supported by Cadbury Ireland & Cornmarket Group Financial Services. The Government matches the financial contribution of the participating businesses.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Staff only: Kids, listen up, the big bad world hasn't changed...[Independent.ie]
- Published: 19 May 2010
With the end of term fast approaching I've just decided to give my 6th years a little lecture on this craven new world that they will be entering. These are kids that have grown up with the kind of luxuries my generation of teens could only dream of; TVs in their bedrooms, free online music, exciting intellectual publications like Nuts and FHM which help boys cope with the fact that they're ugly and weird.
Not that that was ever an issue for me, of course.
I've got to give it to them straight -- when that TV breaks down there mightn't be a new one to replace it if Dad's job in that multinational computer company has moved to China.
The iPod you dropped in the canal the other night when you were drinking cans down at the towpath -- well, it could be a while before Mum saves up enough of her hard-earned pay to get you a new one.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
It's not a doss! You can have a good transition [Independent.ie]
- Published: 19 May 2010
Bill Cullen famously suggested it was a "doss''. But education re- searchers insist that students usually benefit from Transition Year (TY).
Whether they are grappling with an office photocopier or making YouTube videos of flies creeping up a wall, students taking fourth year have an opportunity for a different type of learning.
"It has the potential to give students good experiences that help them to grow up,'' says Dr Gerry Jeffers, lecturer in Education at NUI Maynooth. "The emphasis is on social and personal development.''
