Main barriers to reaching third level revealed [learningireland.ie]
- Published: 14 April 2010
BAD school experiences, financial constraints and poor information are among the main barriers to prevent students from lower socio-economic groups studying at third-level. The ESRI claims many students from the "lower non-manual group" also suffer from a poor understanding of the available financial supports and actual costs of going to college.
The ESRI expressed concern that perceived financial barriers often played a crucial role in a young person's decision not to continue their studies at third-level.
Full Story: www.learningireland.ie
Tánaiste confirms publication of 67 school inspection reports [education.ie]
- Published: 14 April 2010
The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Ms. Mary Coughlan, T.D., has today welcomed publication of 67 school inspection reports on the website of her department, www.education.ie. The inspection reports include:
- 20 whole-school evaluations (WSE) at primary level
- 4 whole-school evaluations at post-primary level, including 12 subject inspections and 1 programme evaluation
- 25 stand-alone subject inspections
- 2 stand-alone programme evaluations
- 3 evaluations of centres for education
Since February 2006 school inspection reports, such as WSE and subject inspections, are published at regular intervals throughout the school year. There are now 3,552 school-inspection reports available on www.education.ie, representative of 1,567 schools or centres for education.
Full Story: www.education.ie
Concerns raised over Clare Educate Together school [IrishTimes]
- Published: 14 April 2010
DEPARTMENT OF Education inspectors have raised concerns about a school run by multidenominational group Educate Together.
In a report published yesterday, inspectors say the principal of the Educate Together school in Ennis, Co Clare, “experiences significant difficulties in carrying out his leadership role”.
The report notes the quality of whole-school planning is poor while curriculum planning “requires immediate attention”.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
9,000 quit school before Leaving Cert [IrishTimes]
- Published: 14 April 2010
APPROXIMATELY 9,000 teenagers are leaving school every year without completing second-level education, a trend that has serious implications for their long-term job prospects, according to an ESRI report to be published today.
The most comprehensive study of early school-leaving patterns to have been undertaken by the ESRI has found gender and social class are strong determinant factors in early school-leaving patterns, with young men from working-class or unemployed households most likely to leave school before completing the Leaving Certificate.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Staff Only: The yobbish teachers who need a lesson in manners [Independent.ie]
- Published: 14 April 2010
It should have come as no shock to any of us to witness the hot reception that greeted Minister Mary Coughlan.
Even though I'm as pee'd off as anyone about how the Government has had no qualms about taking money out of teachers' salaries in order to give it to the banks, I'd still balk at subjecting any lone individual to this kind of hostility.
It's just plain rude.
But as I was saying, it's no surprise that teachers can be rude -- that's the way it has always been with a significant minority of my colleagues.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
