All schools and third level institutions to close on Nov 24 [educationmatters.ie]
- Published: 18 November 2009
Teachers and lecturers across the country have voted in favour of strike action in protest at Government plans to cut €1.3 billion from their earnings.
65,000 teachers and lecturers working in primary schools, second-level schools, further education colleges and third level institutions will participate in the one-day strike on November 24, called by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
Full Story: www.educationmatters.ie
€150m laptop investment like ‘supplying cars without roads' [Irish Examiner]
- Published: 17 November 2009
A €150 MILLION investment over three years in a laptop computer for every classroom in the country has been likened to supplying cars without roads because of inadequate internet access in schools.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s announcement that every classroom in the country is to get a teachers’ laptop, software and a digital projector is a direct response to a recommendation from an expert advisory group on information and communications technology (ICT) in schools.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
Classrooms to get laptop each under new scheme [IrishTimes]
- Published: 17 November 2009
EVERY CLASSROOM in the country is to get a teaching laptop, software and a digital projector over the next three years as part of a new €150 million investment in “smart schools”.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen outlined details of the new initiative on information and computer technologies (ICT) for schools yesterday. Speaking at the launch, Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe acknowledged Ireland was playing “catch-up’’ on technology for schools after years of under investment.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Schools 'just playing catch-up' with laptops [Independent.ie]
- Published: 17 November 2009
EDUCATION Minister Batt O'Keeffe has admitted the €150m investment in school laptops announced yesterday is simply playing 'catch-up' with other countries which have 'leapfrogged' us in investment.
As disclosed in the Irish Independent on November 9, a €150m plan for 'smart schools' will see every classroom in the country getting a teaching lap-top, software and digital projector over the next three years.
As a first step, primary schools will get €22m before the end of this year with the money coming from the capital budget.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Gold star for Batt until his Boss-like blunder [Independent.ie]
- Published: 17 November 2009
THE Taoiseach may have had a big bit of good news to impart to the nation when he arrived at St Joseph's school in Terenure yesterday morning, but he still didn't look too delighted when he turned a corner into a narrow corridor to find a sizeable mob of na buachailli agus cailini dana of the press lying in wait.
"Right, we may as well get this over with," he sighed to Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe with the unhappy air of a gossoon facing into a morning of double maths.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
