Engineers should be retrained as teachers, report says [Independent.ie]
- Published: 12 February 2010
One in five science, engineering and technology students drops out of university, a new report reveals.
The report claims that many students are ill-equipped to tackle the mathematical content of the courses. However, it is easier to get into these courses than in the past because entry points have dropped.
And it suggests that chartered engineers could be retrained as maths and science teachers, with tax breaks provided for the retraining of those who have lost their jobs.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Ethnic pupils 'not being taught enough English' in our schools [Independent.ie]
- Published: 12 February 2010
CHILDREN from non-Irish backgrounds are not being taught enough English in school to allow them to learn other subjects, primary principals said yesterday.
Failure to provide necessary support to schools with up to 90pc of pupils from non-Irish families is causing frustration, a lack of integration and leading to ghettoisation they warned.
Principals told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science they were not being given the resources to deliver a proper education to their pupils.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Language support in schools 'essential' to avoid ghettoes [IrishTimes]
- Published: 12 February 2010
JOINT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND SCIENCE: PRINCIPALS OF multi-ethnic primary schools have warned an Oireachtas committee of the dangers of failing to address the educational needs of children with non-Irish parents.
The five principals told the Joint Committee on Education and Science yesterday it was essential children and their families learned to speak English as soon as possible to help them integrate into Irish society. They also criticised the current model for teaching English to non-English-speaking children.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
English course methods criticised [IrishTimes]
- Published: 11 February 2010
The current model for teaching English in primary schools to non-English-speaking children does not work for some multi-ethnic schools, an Oireachtas committee on education was told today.
Tony McGinley, principal of St John the Evangelist NS in Adamstown, west Dublin, said the English as an Additional Language (EAL) model is based on immersion in English, but immersion wasn't possible when 87 per cent of pupils at his school didn't have English as a first language.
He also told the committee the school, built in 2008, had a library, but no books to put in it.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Primary pupils and teachers 'overloaded' by curriculum [Independent.ie]
- Published: 11 February 2010
CHILDREN are missing out in primary schools because teachers don't have time to get through the curriculum.
The 500,000 children in primary schools follow a curriculum divided into 11 subjects -- and a confidential report warns that pupils are overloaded by it.
The report prepared by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) warns that "curriculum overload affects not just teachers but also children who are subject to it".
Full Story: www.independent.ie
