Children struggle in school with lack of basic language skills [Times Online]
- Published: 15 October 2009
Children are starting primary school with a speaking age of just 18 months and the number unable to form simple sentences is rising, according to the Government's first speech chief.
Full Story: www.timesonline.co.uk
Students Held Back Did Better [NY Times]
- Published: 15 October 2009
A long-awaited study analyzing the Bloomberg administration's student-promotion policy says that fifth graders who were held back did better in subsequent years, and that specialized instruction for struggling students showed moderate success.
Full Story: www.nytimes.com
Budget context to set costs of Government programme [Irish Times]
- Published: 14 October 2009
THE GOVERNMENT yesterday promised that the new programme for government would be costed in the context of the budget on December 9th.
Green Party leader John Gormley, speaking during the Lisbon Treaty debate on September 30th, said it would not be possible to have a programme for government that was not costed. "This has to be costed and it will be," he said.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Hi-tech employers push for bonus points in maths [Independent.ie]
- Published: 14 October 2009
THE Government is under growing pressure from hi-tech multinationals to reward Leaving Certificate higher-level maths students with bonus points for college entry.
Employers in science, technology and engineering say the country can't afford to wait for the newly initiated reform of maths teaching in order to produce the necessary number of high performers.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
In my opinion: Why our principals need all the help they can get [Independent.ie]
- Published: 14 October 2009
School culture has changed dramatically in recent years. Between 1998 and 2004 the principal became one of the most legislated for individuals in Irish society. The establishment in recent years of statutory bodies has expanded further the administrative duties of the principal. Such developments make the job of school leader increasingly unmanageable and the Department of Education and Science needs to demonstrate a willingness to address the resourcing issues.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
