New child protection procedures for schools published [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 30 September 2011
The procedures will apply with immediate effect to both primary and post-primary schools.
Included in the new rules is a requirement for all primary schools to fully implement the Stay Safe Programme.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
Publication of updated Child Protection Procedures for schools [merrionstreet.ie]
- Published: 30 September 2011
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn today published updated child protection procedures for schools.
The “Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools” have been developed following extensive consultation with the education partners and are based on the recently published Children First – National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2011.
The procedures will apply with immediate effect to both primary and post-primary schools and replace previous guidelines issued in 2001 and 2004 respectively.
The purpose of these procedures is to give clear direction and guidance to school management authorities and school personnel in implementing Children First within the school setting.
Full Story: www.merrionstreet.ie
One-third of people teaching maths not qualified to do so [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 29 September 2011
ONE-THIRD of people teaching maths at second level schools are not fully qualified to do so, but schools fear the situation could get worse instead of improving.
The final results of a survey by the Teaching Council show that 84 teachers who take maths classes at the 422 schools that responded have no third level qualification or other studies in the subject. They make up 2.5% of the 3,311 teachers of maths at the schools.
Two-thirds of them (just under 2,200) are fully qualified with either a qualification in maths or having studied it as one of their major degree subjects.
Another 31% — or 1,029 teachers — only had maths as a major subject for part of their undergraduate degree, although this includes at least a year of study.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
Proposals will hurt teacher education [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 29 September 2011
OPEN Letter to the Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn:
The education of primary school teachers is of paramount importance. In this context it is disappointing that new and highly controversial proposals from the Department of Education (Better Literacy and Numeracy for Children and Young People: A Draft National Plan to Improve Literacy and Numeracy in Schools, Nov 2010) and the Teaching Council (Policy on the Continuum of Teacher Education, June 2010 and Initial Teacher Education: Criteria and Guidelines for Programme Providers, Aug 2011) have received little attention in the public forum.
These documents, in effect, propose to eliminate the humanities from primary teacher education. If implemented, these proposals will have a detrimental impact on teacher education and will not be effective in addressing problems with literacy and numeracy at primary level.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
350 fewer resource teachers [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 29 September 2011
SCHOOLS have 350 fewer teachers to help rising numbers of students with learning difficulties than before the summer holidays.
The Department of Education has imposed a cap on the number of resource teachers who can be appointed at 9,960, and 9,856 were working in schools last April.
This included more than 5,300 whose appointment was sanctioned by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). Its approval is needed for teaching supports for primary pupils with more serious learning difficulties and for all second level students who need extra teaching.
But the number is now back to around 5,000 after the department told the NCSE in April to withhold 10% of resource teaching hours recommended for such students, in order to facilitate late applications up to a September 16 deadline and stay within the limit.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
