Martin says church control of schooling is untenable [belfasttelegraph.co.uk]
- Published: 17 February 2010
The Archbishop of Dublin has reportedly said that the Catholic Church's near monopoly over schooling in Ireland is untenable and fails to reflect current realities.
Reports this morning say Diarmuid Martin made the remark in a speech last night to members of the Irish Primary Principal Network.
Lack of a new gaelscoil angers teaching groups [Independent.ie]
- Published: 17 February 2010
EDUCATION Minister Batt O'Keeffe has angered Irish-language teaching groups with the announcement of approval for seven new primary schools.
Gaelscoileanna spokesperson Blathnaid Ni Ghreachain claimed the department breached parents' constitutional right to education for their children, and the State's obligation to protect and nurture the Irish language by not providing for an Irish-medium school among the seven.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Half of nation's maths teachers aren't qualified to teach subject [Independent.ie]
- Published: 17 February 2010
HALF the country's maths teachers are not qualified to teach the subject, according to a shocking new report.
The lack of qualified teachers is a key reason for the poor performance of Irish teenagers in the subject, the report concludes. The findings will set more alarm bells ringing about the lack of readiness of Irish school-leavers for the smart economy, on which future prosperity hinges.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Go-ahead for 52 school projects 'will not clear waiting-list backlog' [Independent.ie]
- Published: 17 February 2010
EDUCATION Minister Batt O'Keeffe was urged to reform the school-building programme as he unveiled details of 52 major building projects to go ahead this year.
The planned construction includes 20 new schools and 32 extensions, creating 23,500 permanent school places, with two-thirds of them at primary level.
The minister also announced that 22 more schools had been approved to advance through the design process under the €579m 2010 programme.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Half of maths teachers unqualified [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 17 February 2010
ALMOST half of those who teach maths in secondary schools have no qualification in teaching the subject, a study has found.
The finding is contained in a report on "out-of-field teachers" who are teaching maths, carried out at the University of Limerick.
The report, by Dr Máire Ní Ríordáin and Dr Ailish Hannigan, of the National Centre for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and Learing (NCE-MSTL), is based on a survey of principals and teachers of maths from a representative national sample of post-primary schools.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
