‘Threat to six South Roscommon schools’ [roscommonpeople.ie]
- Published: 09 August 2011
South Roscommon Sinn Féin representative Luke Callinan has this week heavily criticised the ‘value for money’ review of rural primary schools currently being carried out by the Fine Gael/Labour coalition. There is now a ‘real worry’, according to Mr. Callinan, that six rural local primary schools will be either shut down or amalgamated as part of the government initiative. The primary schools being referred to on the list for review include: Lismoil N.S., Camcloon N.S., Attyrory N.S., Clonown N.S., Rahara N.S. and St. John’s N.S
“I would be very concerned if any of the schools in question are affected by this review” said Mr. Callinan. “The pupils, parents, management boards, teachers and staff, as well as the wider community in these areas fear that the so-called ‘value for money’ review is simply a tool being used by the government to close down or mesh together smaller country schools and I would be inclined to agree.
Full Story: www.roscommonpeople.ie
Transport to school: Counting costs of getting there [independent.ie]
- Published: 09 August 2011
Transport to school: Counting costs of getting there
You may have the best of intentions, but the choices you make about how best to transport your children to school are primarily influenced by how far away you live from the school premises.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
The great uniform debate [independent.ie]
- Published: 09 August 2011
The great uniform debate
LIKE the pupils at her school, Carol Lanigan, principal of the Bray School Project, an Educate Together school in Bray, Co Wicklow, never wore a uniform as a child.
"I haven't worked in a school with a uniform in over 25 years," she says. "I don't have particularly strong views either way but I suppose my preference is for no uniform. I like seeing all the kids expressing themselves through what they wear."
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Minister stresses commitment to broadband for schools [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 08 August 2011
More secondary schools in Ireland may be able to take advantage of a high-speed broadband connection as plans to equip every establishment in the country with the technology move forward.
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte stated the rollout will be a vital part of improving ICT teaching and building a skilled workforce for the future.
"Our aim is to ensure that the current and future generation of second level pupils have the skills and competencies to fully embrace the challenges and opportunities of the digital age," Mr Rabbitte said.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Many parents struggling with back to school costs [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 08 August 2011
Many parents in Ireland may have difficulties meeting the expenses associated with putting a child through the country's education system, a new survey has revealed.
The research, conducted by Bank of Ireland Life in association with Schooldays.ie, found half of respondents said the last school year has been very difficult, as two-thirds of families have seen their earnings fall over the period.
It revealed 77 per cent of parents think school uniforms are too expensive, with half planning to buy a larger size so they will not have to spend again next year.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
