High Speed Broadband for Second Level Schools – Minister Rabbitte [merrionstreet.ie]
- Published: 07 August 2011
High Speed Broadband for Second Level Schools – Minister Rabbitte
The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, T.D., has reaffirmed his objective to roll out high speed broadband to all second level schools in Ireland on a phased basis, following a successful pilot programme which has delivered 100mgbs broadband to 78 second level schools.
Full Story: www.merrionstreet.ie
Quinn urged to focus on teacher numbers and abandon exam reform [IrishTimes]
- Published: 05 August 2011
MINISTER FOR Education Ruairí Quinn should jettison radical plans for exam reform and instead focus on preserving teacher numbers in schools, a teacher union leader has said.
Amid controversy about Government plans to increase class size, Peter MacMenamin of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland said the education system should “effectively tread water” and abandon plans to introduce expensive programmes.
Elsewhere, Fine Gael Senator Fidelma Healy Eames said the Minister needs to “think seriously” before pushing for an increase in class size. “While I am supportive of the Minister’s reforming zeal, let’s be cautious and think this one out.”
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Changes to pupil-teacher ratios 'will damage key subjects' [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 05 August 2011
Proposals to change the pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) for secondary schools will cause "irreparable" damage to several key areas such as maths and physics.
This is the warning of general-secretary of the Teachers' Union of Ireland Annette Dolan, who stated such a move would threaten the survival of minority subjects.
"There is a common misconception that an increase in the PTR in second level schools only leads to one more pupil in classrooms," she said, noting the reality is "starkly different".
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Kids more likely to be neglected in summer holidays – new poll [Independent.ie]
- Published: 05 August 2011
Parents are feeding other people's children, and inviting them to stay during the holidays amid concerns that they are neglected at home, a poll suggests.
One in four parents say children are more likely to be neglected during the school holidays than during term time.
And one in ten (10pc) admit they have cared for a child in the school holidays that was not their own because they thought they were not being properly looked after at home.
The Action For Children poll questioned 2,000 parents with a child aged under 18 about their concerns for other people's children during the summer holidays.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Class size dilemma [Independent.ie]
- Published: 05 August 2011
The revelation that the Department of Education is planning to increase class sizes because the Croke Park Agreement means that it cannot cut teachers' pay and conditions presents the trade unions with an dilemma.
Having opposed spending cuts on the grounds they would lead to increased class sizes, the department has now turned the tables on the trade unions. As one of the "big three" spending departments, any programme of public spending cuts that excluded the Department of Education wouldn't be worth the candle. With the Government pledged to cut public spending by €2.1bn in next December's Budget, education is going to have to share the pain, no matter what the teachers' trade unions say.
If cuts are inevitable then the challenge facing the Department of Education is to achieve savings in a manner that has the least impact on the education of our children.
