'Managerial elite' immobilising Ireland [Independent.ie]
- Published: 14 March 2010
Ireland is immobilised by a "managerial elite" who speak gobbledegook and strangle innovation, and "PR smoothies" who prefer emails rather than first-hand encounters, according to UCD professor Declan Kiberd.
In a hard-hitting polemic, the leading academic and commentator takes a withering sideswipe at the new Ireland and its impenetrable management-speak which means nothing.
"Everywhere, one hears stories of how the new mandarins invoke bizarre laws which make the cost of doing business simply prohibitive.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
O’Keeffe wants schools to join forces to cut bills [sbpost.ie]
- Published: 14 March 2010
Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe is to tell the country’s schools to cut their costs by joining forces to seek tenders for services such as electricity supply.
A report ordered by O’Keeffe found that six third level colleges would save €1.5 million on their electricity bills this year after jointly seeking a supplier.
The colleges - NUI Galway, Institute of Technology Carlow, Cork Institute of Technology, St Angela’s College in Sligo, Institute of Technology Tallaght and Athlone Institute of Technology - formed the Shannon consortium to seek joint tenders.
Full Story: www.sbpost.ie
Pupils should get double points for higher level maths -- experts [Independent.ie]
- Published: 13 March 2010
PUPILS should get double CAO points for Leaving Certificate higher level maths, an expert group has recommended.
The effort required of students for the subject should be rewarded by all third-level institutions, the group says.
The latest call for special treatment for higher level maths arises from a symposium of academics and industry experts, organised by Trinity College Dublin (TCD).
There is growing pressure for bonus points as a way of incentivising more students to take up the subject in order to build the smart economy.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
St Anthony’s principal meets Oireachtas committee to discuss SNA cuts [advertiser.ie]
- Published: 12 March 2010
Yesterday (Thursday) a delegation from St Anthony’s Special School in Castlebar, along with a number of other special schools, met with the joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science in Leinster House to discuss the ongoing row over the axing of a number of special needs assistants jobs.
Fiona Byrnes, principal of St Anthony’s, spoke to the Mayo Advertiser just after the committee finished meeting and was happy with the reception the schools got. “It was a very good meeting, we received widespread cross party support from both TDs and senators,” she said. “They are all very aware now of the feeling there is on the ground about this issue and what it means to the people affected. The schools made a presentation on what the cuts will mean to them, and especially how a withdrawal of SNA support during the middle of the year will affect students.”
Full Story: www.advertiser.ie
Church of Ireland bishop says school debate not new [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 12 March 2010
THE role of religion in schools has only become a subject of public debate because it is now an issue for Catholic schools, a Church of Ireland bishop has claimed.
Right Reverend Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, said members of religious minorities have always had difficulty having education requirements met.
Discussion around control of 92% of the country’s 3,300 primary schools by Catholic bishops has been heightened in the past year and they are in talks with the Department of Education about the possible handover of schools to other patrons in areas of declining demand for Catholic education.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
