Thirty three primary school principals retire in last three years [advertiser.ie]
- Published: 26 March 2010
Information released by Fine Gael senator in Carlow-Kilkenny, John Paul Phelan shows that 33 principals resigned from primary schools in the two counties in the last three years and this is having a serious impact on children, teachers, and parents.
Senator Phelan said that this represents a ‘flood of resignations’ when the number of primary schools in Carlow and Kilkenny are taken into account, and that deputy principals are also leaving in droves with 14 of these also taking flight since 2007.
“This flood of retirements can only be considered top level teacher flight. According to figures released by the Department of Education to Fine Gael Education Spokesman, Brian Hayes TD, there was a huge number of principals retiring from our primary schools, with 661 leaving in schools up and down the country in just three years. The dramatic departure rate actually increased with 321 retiring in 2009 alone.
Full Story: www.advertiser.ie
10% of special needs assistants lost, survey finds [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 26 March 2010
MORE than one-in-10 special needs assistants (SNAs) working with pupils with disabilities have been lost in primary schools despite official claims that the losses resulting from a review would be nowhere near as high, a survey of 850 schools has found.
The Irish Examiner reported last July that about 1,160 (or 11%) of the 10,500 SNAs in primary and second-level schools may be lost, based on preliminary outcomes of the National Council for Special Education review ordered by then education minister Batt O’Keeffe. He has repeatedly rejected these figures as exaggerated and claimed any loss of SNA posts would be a result of diminished needs among pupils or children moving from a school.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
System playing catch-up to families' needs [Independent.ie]
- Published: 26 March 2010
IT is the simplest of sums: a plethora of new housing estates plus more children equals rising demand for school places.
Gorey in Co Wexford has become the latest example of how the education system continues to play catch-up with the needs of young families in rapidly developing areas.
The signs of an explosion in demand for extra classrooms in Gorey, which has only one post-primary school, have been obvious for years. The population of the town has risen by 50pc to about 8,000 in the past decade.
Some of the town's outlying rural areas have seen even bigger percentage rises.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Our 'excellent' universities top EU league table for efficiency [Independent.ie]
- Published: 26 March 2010
IRISH universities have received a major boost by coming at the top of a European 'efficiency' league table.
Weeks after complaints about dumbing down and grade inflation, an EU study reveals that:
- Irish graduates are the most highly employable in Europe.
- Irish universities have the highest graduation rate in Europe.
- Ireland has the highest percentage of graduates in Europe.
- Universities in Ireland, Finland and Sweden are given the highest 'excellence' rating by academics in other EU countries.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Mixed emotions for parents in lottery for school places [Independent.ie]
- Published: 26 March 2010
A GARDA was called in yesterday to referee a lottery for school places in a commuter-belt community whose population exploded during the boom years.
The schools crisis in Gorey, Co Wexford, has left at least 45 pupils without a second-level place for next September.
Some parents were reduced to tears as their long-held assumption of a place for their child in Gorey Community School evaporated.
Most of the parents involved do not have an alternative school to which to send their children because, for generations, Gorey was the automatic choice for second level.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
