ICP 2009 Convention ends in Singapore [icp.org]
- Published: 10 July 2009
The convention ended yesterday. On behalf of the ICP and the 1400+ delegates who attended the convention at the Suntec Convention Centre in Singapore, we would like to thank and congratulate Belinda Charles, the President of the Academy of Principals Singapore, and her dedicated, hard-working team and their committees for a brilliant 4 day experience. Delegates from 40 countries really enjoyed the presentations, the social events, and the opportunities for professional and personal networking that the convention provided for them.
The report from the conference will be available from this website in the next 2-3 weeks. It will contain session notes from the keynote addresses, presentations from the most of the keynotes, plenaries and the concurrent sessions, and audio recordings of the keynote addresses. To access the report, you will need to login to the Members Area - your local ICP member association can provide you with the username and password if they have not already given them to you
cf. http://www.icponline.org/
Teachers paid millions for work they didn't do [independent.ie]
- Published: 10 July 2009
THE Department of Education paid millions of euro of taxpayers' money to teachers for work they didn't do, a probe by the spending watchdog reveals.
A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), seen by the Irish Independent, found a litany of problems with the €100m Supervision and Substitution Scheme.
It raises serious questions about the value for money achieved by the scheme, which Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe is now overhauling as part of his cost-cutting drive.
The C&AG audit focused on the €35m spent in the second-level schools in the voluntary, comprehensive and community sectors, which account for 70pc of post-primary schools.
More than 13,000 teachers in these schools received €25m in the 2007/2008 year and an additional €10m was paid to schools to cover administration and other costs.
Digital divide in Irish schools ; a black and whiteboard issue? [SiliconRepublic.com]
- Published: 10 July 2009
While a growing number of Irish schools have received whiteboard technology, it could lead to a wider learning gulf between schools that aren't being provided with the latest computers and whiteboards.
It emerged yesterday that St Patrick's National School in Stamullen, Co Meath became one of the few schools in Ireland to have whiteboards deployed in all 20 of its classrooms, giving its 420 students access to technology in every class.
NCCA Annual Report [ncca.ie]
- Published: 08 July 2009
NCCA Annual Report 2008
Cash-strapped schools turn to charity for help [herald.ie]
- Published: 06 July 2009
A leading charity is getting an increasing number of calls from schools and creches seeking financial help.
Schools are being forced to ask St Vincent de Paul for funds during the recession, as Government funds are limited and parents can no longer help with school costs.
The charity gave a "generous donation" to a small creche facility in Dublin's inner city this month, just as the creche was about to shut its doors.
Cllr Christy Burke (Independent) told the Herald: "Government departments should hang their heads in shame when schools have to go virtually cap in hand begging to organisations for help.
"One of the high priorities is that we need low-fee child minding. Creches throughout the city are experiencing absolutely terrible times trying to stay open."
He said the creche had a €5,000 shortfall, and its only option was to turn to charity.
"Here we have an ideal creche that caters for 22 children, near enough close its doors. St Vincent de Paul has come out of the traps and given the money," he added.
A spokesperson for St Vincent de Paul, Jim Walsh, told the Herald: "We are finding more and more schools around the country are requesting us for funds in relation to homework clubs and books.
"It's now not just from individuals but from schools. Now, to make a donation to a school wouldn't be unusual.
"€3.4m was spent in 2007 by St Vincent de Paul on educational support, everything from pre-schools to PhD candidates, to low-income families. It would seem this has increased," he added.
St Vincent de Paul estimates that it is spending more than €1m a week in donations to people right across the board, not just in education.
Homework
Mr Walsh said all sectors in education are turning to the charity for help to cope with the cost of running schools.
"We can only speculate at the moment, but an increasing number of schools need help in their additional programmes, like homework clubs."
He added that the schools' summer break will not lead to a lapse in calls.
"We've already started to get calls this month, so we anticipate that we'll get more from schools over the summer, and from families, since the Government withdrew the school book grant."
A spokesperson for the Irish Primary Principals' Network confirmed that schools are in difficulty as a result of grants being reduced or scrapped.
