Putting Transferable Core Skills into Irish Schools [insideview.ie]
- Published: 10 October 2011
TONIGHT'S EDCHATIE SESSION onTwitter approached transferable skills--the same chestnut we tried to crack during the last two ICTEDU conferences.
In less than an hour, 21 Irish, British and American educators cited skills and strategies that could well help foster those skills in students. The ideas came fast and furiously: issues such as skills assessment, collaborative planning, the proper integration of ICT, and a respect for literacy and numeracy. I wish the list of core skills that emerged during tonight's #edchatie session could be assessed in every new student that walks through our third level door in LIT-Clonmel. We need to know if our Level 7 and Level 8 candidates arrive with an ability to think for themselves and we need to scrutinise those who are victims of rote learning.
Full Story: www.insideview.ie
Group invites Catholic primary schools to consider changes in patronage [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 10 October 2011
CATHOLIC primary schools are to be asked to consider if they might hand control to another patron — though both the timeframe and the number of schools which might change hands remain unclear.
The Catholic Schools Partnership (CSP) is asking all 2,800-plus primary schools under the patronage of the local Catholic bishop to reflect on their identity and priorities with parents, pupils, staff, management and the local community.
The CSP, set up by the Catholic bishops and religious orders in 2009, wants the exercise carried out in the current school year "to prepare the way for a change in patronage where that would be appropriate".
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
Eight autistic children still waiting for a school place after 10 weeks [Independent.ie]
- Published: 10 October 2011
MORE than two months after their specialist school closed due to a lack of funds, a group of eight autistic children still have no school places.
The former pupils at Achieve ABA in Donaghmede, north Dublin, have instead spent the past 10 weeks either at home or being taught by private tutors paid for by parents.
Following the closure of their school at the end of July after five years in operation, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn charged the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to find new places for the children.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Challenges in education - Urgency and selfless focus are essential [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 10 October 2011
ANYONE with the slightest interest in the role that education has to play in advancing this society and rebuilding our economy realises that considerable change is needed at nearly every level in our schools and colleges.
Just as in virtually every other sector of society, the options are limited and stark: change or fail and accept the unpalatable consequences of that failure.
Teachers and academics, politicians and parents, employers and a growing number of students realise that our system, though far better than many, must improve almost beyond all recognition if we are to create and sustain a modern, solvent European society.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
Parents' dismay as school hailed for teaching special needs pupils faces closure [belfasttelegraph.co.uk]
- Published: 10 October 2011
A school highly praised for its work with special educational needs (Sen) pupils has been told it is facing closure.
Devastated parents whose children attend Knockmore Primary School in Lisburn were told the shock news by officials from the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB) yesterday.
One in three children who attend the mainstream school are catered for in its special unit, which had to expand down the years due to increased demand.
Sybil Skelton from the SEELB told furious parents that if the school closed “the board will relocate the special needs children”.
But she couldn’t tell concerned parents, many of children with autism or speech difficulties, where, or even what type of school, they would be transferred to.
Full Story: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
