New scheme means free pre-school places for 70,000 [Independent.ie]
- Published: 04 November 2009
The big development in early childhood education in Ireland from January will be the provision of a year's free pre-school education to children.
The Minister for Children Barry Andrews has promised that the free pre-school places at recognised centres will benefit around 70,000 children.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Staff only: Time for a reality check: we don't really care about kids [Independent.ie]
- Published: 04 November 2009
Now that we realise that Ireland is not actually some kind of oversized Celtic Monte Carlo, I feel it's time to put some of my thoughts down regarding the delusions surrounding Irish education. I'll start with the oft quoted maxim that we have 'the best education system in the world'.
This ranks alongside us having 'the most sophisticated electorate in the world' and I'd hazard a guess that both of these outrageous clichés were actually contrived not by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, but by ourselves.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Primary teachers prepare for ballot on strike action [Irish Examiner]
- Published: 03 November 2009
THE Irish National Teachers’ Organisation will hold a series of nine meetings across the country tonight ahead of balloting primary teachers for up to three days of strikes.
The INTO executive is asking teachers to support its call for the industrial action, in response to threats to what it and other public service unions see as threats to pay, pensions and conditions of employment.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
Public spending cuts ‘could cause havoc’ [Irish Examiner]
- Published: 03 November 2009
CUTTING public expenditure or public sector wages or employment could cause havoc for the Irish economy, a top economist warned yesterday.
Such action could lead to a prolonged depression, warned David Blanchflower, professor of economics at Dartmouth College in the US.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.comTeacher's Pet: [IrishTimes]
- Published: 03 November 2009
An insider’s guide to education
The Protestant fee-paying schools have been widely praised for their skilful public relations campaign on those education cutbacks.
The schools – which engaged the PR firm Drury – kept the issue in the public spotlight by the clever use of keynote speeches and special conferences. It helped that two of their main spokespeople – Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr John Neill and parents’ representative, Eleanor Petrie – were so forceful and articulate.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
