Kenny presses minister on crisis in maths [Independent.ie]
- Published: 15 September 2011
TAOISEACH Enda Kenny last night heaped pressure on Education Minister Ruairi Quinn to tackle the crisis of unqualified maths teachers in schools.
Mr Quinn earlier admitted his department is yet to get a clear picture as to the number of unqualified maths teachers working in the country's second-level schools.
Mr Kenny later waded into the row on the teaching of maths -- admitting his surprise that schools were hiring maths teachers who were not qualified.
The Taoiseach also said employers have expressed their dissatisfaction to him about the standard of students emerging from the education system.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Eleanor's big success is clouded by loss of her special assistant [Independent.ie]
- Published: 15 September 2011
A STUDENT with Down Syndrome was celebrating yesterday after receiving two As and three Bs in her Junior Certificate -- but her family fears for her future after she lost her Special Needs Assistant (SNA).
Eleanor Murray (17), from Readstown, Trim, Co Meath, has dreams of attending the country's most prestigious university when she completes her Leaving Certificate in three years' time.
However, her father is worried his daughter's remarkable achievement may not be replicated in her Leaving Cert as she no longer has access to her own SNA due to cutbacks.
Eleanor, who attends a mainstream school, Scoil Mhuire, Trim, was delighted with her her results, which included an A in foundation maths and home economics.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
School inspection reports [merrionstreet.ie]
- Published: 15 September 2011
New inspection reports on the web today comprise:
14 whole-school evaluations (WSEs) of primary schools
1 whole-school evaluation (WSEs) of a post-primary school, including 4 subject inspections
4 stand-alone subject inspections at post-primary level
2 stand-alone programme evaluations at post-primary level
Since 6th February 2006, inspection reports on schools and centres for education are published on the Department of Education and Skills’ website at regular intervals throughout the school year.
There are now 4,843 inspection reports on the website, representative of 1,971 schools and centres for education.
Full Story: www.merrionstreet.ie
Teachers report ‘beyond historic’ [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 14 September 2011
IRISH teachers have criticised a report which says they are among the best paid in the world as "beyond historic".
The OECD report, Education at a Glance, says Irish primary school teachers are the second highest paid among 33 OECD countries, while secondary teachers are third or fourth highest paid.
According to the report, primary school teachers here earn an average of $60,355 compared with the OECD average of $38,914 and the EU average of $39,735.
"At primary level, Irish teachers are better paid in absolute terms than teachers in other countries. The relative position of primary level teachers, here, improves as they move from the minimum to the maximum of the pay scale. At secondary level, Irish teachers are also better paid than elsewhere," the report states.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
SNA campaigners to take to streets [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 14 September 2011
Campaigners opposed to reduced spending on SNAs are taking to the streets in Dublin later.
They will march from the Central Bank to the Dáil, demanding fair treatment for children with special needs.
Principal at Griffeen Valley Educate Together National School in Lucan, Co Dublin Tomás O'Dulaing said: "(The Government) can find money to bail out the richest and the most powerful in our society…but they can’t, they tell us, find the money to look after the most vulnerable in our society.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
