Ireland trails the world for use of school computers [independent.ie]
- Published: 27 March 2009
Source: independent.ie
By Katherine Donnelly
Friday March 27 2009
ALMOST one in three Irish 15-year-olds have never used a computer in school -- more than double the average in the developed world.
New figures obtained by the Irish Independent reveals our students continue to lag behind the international average on computer use in schools.
The report by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) covering 57 countries reveals a "significant" 30pc of Irish students reported never using computers in schools, well below the OECD average of 13pc.
The data, gathered under the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), found 48pc of Irish 15-year-olds reported using a computer at home almost every day, almost double the 26pc rate reported in 2003. However, the figure is below the OECD average of 70pc. Irish students were on a par with their international counterparts when it came to reporting never using computers at home in 2006, at 7pc.
The rate of computer use in Irish schools doubled between 2003 and 2006, with 47pc of Irish 15-year-olds reporting using technology at least once or twice a week in 2006, compared with 24pc in 2003.
Self-confidence
Despite that increase, Irish students will lag behind the OECD average, which rose from 43pc to 55pc in the same period, although the gap has narrowed significantly. It also found that the average self-confidence in high-level computer tasks among Irish students was lower than the OECD average.
On average, males in the OECD scored higher on the confidence scale than females, although there was no overall gender difference in Ireland.
Irish female students were more self-confident about using a word processor without help and creating a presentation, such as PowerPoint, while males were more confident of success with multi-media presentations and also in their ability to use anti-virus software.
The 2006 survey involved 164 schools and 4,585 students in Ireland. In each school, the principal completed a questionnaire while students were tested in science, maths and reading, and completed a questionnaire about computer usage and competence in various information and communications technology-related (ICT) tasks.
A 2006 EU survey on ICT in schools concluded that Ireland ranked 19th out of 25 -- with only 30pc of teachers being 'ICT-ready' -- and blamed insufficient ICT equipment and access to the internet in schools.
More than 64,000 Teachers Now Registered - Teaching Council Publishes Second Annual Report [Teaching Council]
- Published: 26 March 2009
Source: Teaching Council
than 64,000 teachers are now registered with the Teaching Council. The establishment of the Register of Teachers is one of the Teaching Council's most important functions and progress in this and other key areas is set out in the Council's second annual report which was published today (26 March 2009).
In order to be eligible to be registered as a teacher, applicants must hold qualifications deemed suitable by the Teaching Council. During the reporting year, the Council dealt with almost 1500 applications from persons seeking to have their qualifications recognised for the purposes of registration. In the main, these applications were made by persons whose qualifications were awarded in other countries. The Council also considered evidence of character information and, during the year, it arranged for more than 6,200 entrants to the profession to undergo a process of Garda vetting.
Speaking today, Áine Lawlor, Teaching Council Director, said "each stage of the teaching career is characterised by high professional standards and, during the year, the Council continued its work to ensure those standards are upheld. It did this in the interest of young people and society and, also, for the purpose of maintaining and enhancing the reputation of the profession".
While the development of the Register was the main focus of the Council's work during the year, significant progress was also made across the range of the Council's functions.
The Council commissioned research on teacher education in Ireland and internationally and began a consultative process to inform its drafting of its Policy Paper on Teacher Education and its Strategy for the Review and Accreditation of Programmes of Initial Teacher Education. Both the Policy Paper and the Review and Accreditation Strategy are now at an advanced stage and it is anticipated that the Council will review a number of programmes on a pilot basis later this year.
Having regard to the importance of continuing professional development in the teaching profession, the Council launched a scheme of research bursaries to assist teachers who are undertaking research related to teaching, learning and assessment. Two further schemes have subsequently been implemented and, to date, the Council has awarded almost €250,000 in research bursaries.
In everything it does, the Council seeks to promote teaching as a profession and to create a culture where the role of teachers in preparing young people for life is acknowledged and valued. The Council's production of the DVD, "Croí na Múinteoireachta", marked an important step in an ongoing campaign to inform and enhance public perception of the teaching profession. A website dedicated to promoting teaching as a profession, www.teach.ie, is currently at planning stage.
Watchdog contradicts O'Keeffe's audit claim [independent.ie]
- Published: 26 March 2009
Source: independent.ie
By John Walshe Education Editor
Thursday March 26 2009
THE State spending watchdog has contradicted a claim by Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe that a major value-for-money review of higher education is nearly completed.
Mr O'Keeffe yesterday told the Dail the audit was nearing completion. He said he had received the information from members of the Committee of Public Accounts.
However, a letter sent by the Comptroller and Auditor General, John Buckley, -- seen by the Irish Independent -- clearly states that the review will take up to 18 months before it is concluded.
In the letter, dated March 19, 2009, Mr Buckley said only preliminary work scoping out a study had been done, and that the substantive work will not start until the autumn.
"In general, value for money reviews can take up to one year to finalise," he wrote.
Resources
Mr Buckley said his office has a limited pool of staff available for reporting work.
He added that the first call on resources was to ensure that the accounts of state bodies were certified on a annual basis. Work on other reporting topics, including FAS, had to be prioritised, he said.
Last night, it emerged Mr O'Keeffe based his Dail claim on information he had received from three people, including the current vice chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Darragh O'Brien, who said the letter from the C&NG was news to him.
"My very clear understanding was that there was much more than a scoping out of a study involved and that the report was nearing completion" he told the Irish Independent.
Comments
A spokesperson for Mr O'Keeffe said the minister had based his Dail comments on what he understood the Comptroller and Auditor General had told the current vice chair, a former vice chair and the convenor of the Committee of Public Accounts.
The letter from the C&NG was sent to Fine Gael education spokesperson Brian Hayes, who last night accused the minister of making things up as he went along.
The "forensic audit" was promised eight months ago but there was still sign of it, said Mr Hayes.
"In fact, the situation is worse as he will now bring his proposals on funding higher education to cabinet next week, without the higher level strategy review due by year end, and without his forensic audit. He talks a great game."
In a recent Dail reply, Mr Hayes said the C&NG's programme of work in the higher education area would assist in the preparation of the national strategy.
Work on this strategy has already begun under the direction of a steering group, chaired by economist Dr Colin Hunt.
This strategy group is due to report before the end of the year.
However, Mr Hayes asked how the C&NG's work could help as it would not commence until the autumn and would not be finished for up to 18 months from now.
- John Walshe Education Editor
78 inspection reports published on Department's website [DES]
- Published: 26 March 2009
Source: DES
A total of 78 school inspection reports were published today on the Department of Education and Science website.New inspection reports on the web today include
- 37 whole-school evaluations at primary level
- 1 whole-school evaluation ( WSE) at post primary level including 3 subject inspections
- 32 stand-alone subject inspections
- 1 stand-alone programme evaluation
- 3 evaluations of Youthreach Centres
- 1evaluation of a Senior Traveller Centre
Since 6th February 2006, school inspection reports, such as WSE and Subject Inspections,are published on the Department of Education and Science's website at regular intervals throughout the school year.There are now 2707 school inspection reports on the website, representative of 1322 schools or centres for education.
Whole School Evaluation reports comment on the school's management, planning and management of resources, the effectiveness of teaching and learning, its arrangements for student assessment, supports for students, provision for minority groups and home-school links. Depending on the size of the school an inspector or team of inspectors visit the school for a period of time to evaluate management and planning, teaching and learning and supports for pupils.
Following this evaluation phase of WSE, Inspectors discuss the findings and recommendations with school management and members of teaching staff.This is followed by a period for factual verification of the report and a timescale is built into the process for the school to respond to the WSE report.At the end of this process the WSE report and School Response (if the school has made a response) are published simultaneously on the Department's website.
Subject Inspection reports evaluate the teaching and learning of specific subjects in second-level schools. A number of subjects can be inspected as part of a WSE or a school can have a stand alone subject inspection. The subject inspection reports published today include a total of 35 subject inspections including Mathematics, SPHE, Gaeilge, German, Spanish, English, Science and Chemistry ,Science and Physics,Science and Biology and Agricultural Science, Geography, Guidance, Materials Technology Wood / Construction Studies,Music,Religious Education and Special Educational Needs.
All inspection reports, including those published today are accessible via the link below.
http://www.education.ie/insreports/school_inspection_report_listing.htm
Two-thirds of planned school buildings face axe in Budget [independent.ie]
- Published: 26 March 2009
Source: independent.ie
By Michael Brennan Political Correspondent
Thursday March 26 2009
NEW school buildings are set to bear the brunt of the Government's €2bn capital spending cuts in next month's emergency budget, the Irish Independent has learned.
Long-awaited primary and secondary school projects are in the firing line after it emerged that 70pc of the funding earmarked for Department of Education capital spending has not been committed.
Although the Government has consistently emphasised the importance of 'labour-intensive' school building projects, the cutbacks put the education capital budget in peril.
Finance Minister Brian Lenihan has pledged to cut €2bn from an overall capital spend of of €8bn that is budgeted but has not been committed.
This puts any project where a contract is not signed in the firing line, which the opposition says could lead to a "day of devastation" for schools in next month's emergency budget.
The Irish Independent has learned that just €278m of the €904m education capital budget for education is contractually committed.
This means just 30pc of that capital funding is guaranteed to be spent. By comparison, most other Government departments have nailed down 80pc of their capital funding with legally binding contracts. The percentage is even higher in Agriculture, where 99pc (€452m of the €454m) of the capital budget is contractually committed.
Among the other major Government projects which remain uncommitted are the National Concert Hall, the National Children's Hospital, the Thornton Hall super-prison and three decentralised offices in Portlaoise, Mullingar and Carlow.
The revelation comes as Taoiseach Brian Cowen admitted yesterday the Government is planning to borrow more to plug the hole in public finances.
Labour party finance spokeswoman Joan Burton last night said: "If the Government cuts back the uncommitted spending in the capital programme, my fear would be that a lot of the school projects would be in jeopardy."Only 43 school building projects have guaranteed capital funding for this year, with another four secondary schools being built using the public-private partnership model.
These schools were announced earlier this month by Taoiseach Brian Cowen and are all located in his Laois-Offaly constituency -- in Bannagher, Ferbane and Portlaoise (two schools).
Around €656m of the total education capital budget is dedicated to primary and secondary school building projects, with the remaining €248m mainly going to the third-level sector.
Ms Burton said it made no sense to cut back on school building projects because they were a key method of generating construction jobs.
Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe had promised that his school building programme would deliver 3,300 jobs this year, based on the principle of one job per €255,000 of investment. But if two thirds of the capital budget is scrapped, 2,300 of these jobs will fail to materialise.
Devastation
Meanwhile, Mr O'Keeffe yesterday told the Dail he would spend €48m this year on pre-fab accommodation for schools.
Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes said the department had made a "complete dog's dinner" of the school building programme by failing to sign contracts in time.
"Given their commitment to spend on schools and get builders back to work, it would be an absolute day of devastation for schools if this money was now to be lost," he said.
A spokesman for Mr O'Keeffe was unable to guarantee that the school capital budget would be left untouched.
"I wouldn't be speculating on any discussions around expenditure he said.
Traditionally, the second round of school building is announced at Easter to coincide with the teachers' unions conferences -- often dominated by complaints about crumbling school buildings and draughty prefabs.Sinn Fein North West MEP candidate Padraig Mac Lochlainn saidconditions in the school were "completely unacceptable".
- Michael Brennan Political Correspondent
