IPPN

Changes in school exams [irishtimes.com]

Published: 29 August 2011

Changes in school exams

Sir, – Seán Flynn (Front page, August 26th) draws attention to proposals being prepared for the Minister for Education by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. The focus of the article – the “radical overhaul” of assessment procedures at Junior Cert level and the likely reaction of the ASTI to this – masks some disturbing aspects of these same proposals. If implemented, I believe these changes would “radically overhaul” what students learn as well as how this learning is assessed.

Full Story: www.irishtimes.com

Teachers’ union opposes Junior Cert reforms [examiner.ie]

Published: 27 August 2011

Teachers’ union opposes Junior Cert reforms

MAJOR reforms of the Junior Certificate face opposition as a teachers’ union claims they can not be achieved while schools are suffering major cuts to staffing and other resources.

Full Story: www.examiner.ie

Not the right time for change to Junior Cert, teachers insist [independent.ie]

Published: 27 August 2011

Not the right time for change to Junior Cert, teachers insist

NOW is not the time for a radical overhaul of the Junior Certificate, teachers said yesterday.

They were responding to Education Minister Ruairi Quinn's plans to introduce continuous assessment to the system in what teachers said amounted to "sweeping educational reform".

Full Story: www.independent.ie

Call to ring-fence funding for disadvantaged schools [examiner.ie]

Published: 27 August 2011

Call to ring-fence funding for disadvantaged schools

EXTRA support for disadvantaged schools is having a positive effect but needs to be ring-fenced from any future cutbacks, a school principal has claimed.

Full Story: www.examiner.ie