Union want more of education cash [Independent.ie]
- Published: 24 February 2010
Less than 60% of the education budget makes it directly to schools, a teaching union has claimed.
Some of the missing money is spent on administration and bureaucracy involved in running Northern Ireland's different forms of teaching, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) added.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Cuts force schools to drop science subjects [Independent.ie]
- Published: 24 February 2010
GOVERNMENT plans for the smart economy have been dealt a serious blow as secondary schools are dropping physics and chemistry.
One in five principals say they have already given up physics or are considering dropping the subject, while one in seven have said the same about chemistry.
They blame cutbacks, changes in the pupil-teacher ratio and the impact of the ban on filling middle-management promotion posts. The cuts and other changes were introduced by the Government to save money, but the effects on the schools are revealed in a new survey carried out by the National Association of Principals and Deputy (NAPD).
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Principal issues special school warning [dublinpeople.com]
- Published: 24 February 2010
THE principal of a special needs school on the Southside has warned that it will have to close on health and safety grounds if Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe does not intervene and reverse massive teaching staff cuts.
Brendan Hennigan, the principal of St Joseph’s special school in Balrothery, Tallaght, has been told he will lose over 66 per cent of his teaching and support staff by the end of the current academic term.
He said a review concluded recently by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) on behalf of the Department of Education means the school would lose 50 per cent or eight of its 17 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in the next six weeks.
Full Story: www.dublinpeople.com
'Structured' PE improves kids' fitness [irishhealth.com]
- Published: 24 February 2010
Introducing structured physical activity programmes in schools could improve children’s fitness levels and lead to a decrease in their body fat, the results of a new study indicate.
Swiss researchers monitored 540 seven and 11-year-olds in 15 schools. Over the course of nine months, half of the pupils underwent a physical activity programme designed by experts.
This involved structuring their existing three physical education (PE) lessons and adding two extra lessons per week. They were also given daily short activity breaks and physical activity homework.
The remaining pupils continued to receive their existing three PE lessons per week only.
Full Story: www.irishhealth.com
Physical activity in schools 'makes children fitter' [Independent.ie]
- Published: 24 February 2010
Increasing PE lessons in schools and giving 'exercise homework' improves children's fitness and body weight, researchers have found, after previous studies suggested it had no effect.
A study in Switzerland has found that children given more exercise time at school, in dedicated lessons and throughout the day, as well as ten minute exercise homework, were fitter and put on less weight than others.
