Ministers 'acting like FF' over location of VEC HQs [Independent.ie]
- Published: 05 October 2011
Government backbencher John Deasy has accused ministers of "behaving like Fianna Fail" in deciding the locations of new headquarters for the country's vocational education committees (VECs).
A halving of the number of VECS from 33 to 16 is a cost-cutting exercise, forcing the closure of administrative offices in a number of major county towns. Education Minister Ruairi Quinn announced the locations for the new headquarters last night.
In one example, Mr Deasy's home county of Waterford has been merged with Wexford, which is the choice for the new headquarters, with sub-offices in Waterford City and Dungarvan. The Fine Gael TD last night queried Wexford as the choice, claiming that it did not fit the criteria for the most suitable location.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Mr Quinn's new challenge [IrishTimes]
- Published: 04 October 2011
THE MINISTER for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn tops the list of the 50 most influential in education, published in today’s editions. Mr Quinn is certainly cutting a dash in education. In a little over six months, he has rolled out an ambitious programme of reform measures. Key reports on changes to the Junior Cert and the Leaving Cert/CAO system have already been published. Further reports are pending on patronage in primary schools, funding for higher education and admission procedures for schools. The Minister has also launched new initiatives designed to boost literacy and numeracy standards in schools. It is an impressive work programme and one which reflects a new urgency to boost performance in our schools and colleges.
In truth, the Minister has little alternative. Ireland’s ranking in both literacy and numeracy slipped dramatically in last year’s OECD survey. On literacy, Ireland dropped from 5th to 19th, the sharpest drop among developed nations. Mr Quinn has described the OECD survey as a “wake-up call’’ for Irish education which proved how we have been “codding ourselves’’ about our “world class’’ education system. He has set about improving matters.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Many pupils 'would rather squint' than wear glasses [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 04 October 2011
A large number of school pupils may be struggling to read what is on the board if they do not wish to admit to wearing glasses.
According to a survey conducted by Vision Express, 16 per cent of students say they would rather squint than put on corrective lenses in the classroom, the Evening Herald reports.
Over a quarter of youngsters (26 per cent) said they would hide their glasses as they are embarrassed by them.
However, the research did find glasses-wearing celebrities such as pop singer Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez - star of Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place - could help change the perception of lenses among young people.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Irish course caters for graduates seeking entry to teaching [educationmatters.ie]
- Published: 04 October 2011
If you are a graduate who wants to enter one of the teacher training colleges with a view to qualifying as a primary teacher, but do not have the requisite qualification in Irish, don’t despair – help is at hand!
St Helen’s Tuition Centre in North Co Dublin is offering a one-year intensive evening course exclusively for people who wish to re-sit Irish in the Leaving Cert.
Full Story: www.educationmatters.ie
The 50 most influential people in education [IrishTimes]
- Published: 04 October 2011
Who exerts real power and influence in Irish education? Who shapes public policy? Who has the ear of the Minister? Who influences what happens in the classroom? Who leads and influences public debate? The Irish Times top 50 list is the first to identify and rank the main movers in Irish education
1 RUAIRÍ QUINN
Minister for Education and Skills
In six astonishing months, Ruairí Quinn has shown how an energetic Minister can drive the education agenda and push for change. While some of his predecessors were content to sit on their hands, the 65-year-old is at his desk by 8am each day, driving his reform agenda.
His timing could hardly be better. The dramatic slump in Ireland’s OECD rankings in literacy and numeracy have swept away the complacency and self-regard that clung to Irish education for decades. Quinn has labelled the OECD report “a wake-up call” for Irish education. We have, he says, been “codding ourselves about our world-class education system”.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
