Creating teachers online [sbpost.ie]
- Published: 11 April 2010
Seán Rowland has the dubious distinction of having sparked angry reaction when he launched his business, Hibernia College, almost ten years ago.
At the time, Rowland’s online college was a revolutionary idea - and it drew anger and derogatory comments from many quarters. Most of the attention focused on Hibernia’s online teacher-training programme, which attracted opposition and ‘‘utmost concern’’ from the established training colleges in Ireland.
But the Mayo-born teacher and businessman doesn’t hold any grudges about the protest. ‘‘It was change. People fear change, and it was a new medium," he said.
Full Story: www.sbpost.ie
Coughlan critic made judge on 'Your Country, Your Call' [tribune.ie]
- Published: 11 April 2010
THE businessman who sparked controversy after a TV outburst in which he referred to the "cringe factor" and "embarrassment level" surrounding the tánaiste has been appointed to the judging panel of the 'Your Country, Your Call' competition.
Paul Kerley, chief executive of Norkom Technologies, is one of the eight people named on the judging panel of the competition, which is the brainchild of President Mary McAleese's husband Martin.
Full Story: www.tribune.ie
Siptu members to ballot on public sector deal this week [sbpost.ie]
- Published: 11 April 2010
Siptu members will begin balloting on the new public sector reform deal this week, following a meeting of the union’s executive on Tuesday.
It is not known whether the 36-strong executive will issue a recommendation on how to vote to their 70,000 public sector members.
However, two-thirds of Siptu’s membership are private sector employees, and sources have indicated that the strong private sector representation on the executive was likely to bring more diverse opinion to discussion on the proposed agreement.
Full Story: www.sbpost.ie
Public service pay deal now in jeopardy after Impact rejection [sbpost.ie]
- Published: 11 April 2010
The four-year public service pay deal brokered by the Labour Relations Commission at Croke Park last month looks to be at serious risk following the decision of the Impact union to effectively recommend rejection to its members.
The Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU) is expected to come out against the agreement early next week and its members are also likely to reject it in their ballot.
However, senior well-placed figures close to the process pointed out that there is no alternative to the agreement, and that despite all the anger displayed at the teachers’ conferences, there is very little appetite for prolonged or effective industrial action.
Full Story: www.sbpost.ie
Teachers go bottom of class for menacing new Minister [IrishTimes]
- Published: 11 April 2010
Delegates at last week’s teacher conferences started to look like playground bullies, writes ANN MARIE HOURIHANE
WHEN IS the last time you were at a conference? Me neither. Conference, it’s an old-fashioned word. We seem somehow to be in conference season – a phrase that always reminds me of the tower at Blackpool prom, but that’s what happens when you grew up in five-channel land. Conference season – it seems to unspool in black and white, under leaden skies.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
