In search of Santa [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 06 December 2011
For a man who is supposed to be as elusive as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, Santa seems to be making an awful lot of public appearances this year. He’s here, he’s there, he’s everywhere – well, at least he is according to the latest edition of Primary Times which came home in my son’s school bag recently.
For a man who is supposed to be holed up in a grotto in the North Pole (or is it Lapland – I’m never quite sure), he seems to be spending an awful lot of time hanging around in shopping centres in Ireland. It’s a whistle-stop tour which makes Jedward’s PR campaign look quite calm.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Massive demand for Educate Together [Independent.ie]
- Published: 06 December 2011
AN EVENT held recently at Millfield Shopping Centre has proven beyond doubt that there is massive demand for a second level Educate Together School in the area. A committee aiming to provide such a school in Balbriggan took a stand at the shopping centre for a weekend to test the interest in the project locally. Aimed at taking expressions of interest in a second level Educate Together school in Balbriggan, the organisers were overwhelmed by the response. Behind the event were Balbriggan ET2L who took a whopping 1,000 signatures from parents wishing to send their children to an Educate Together secondary school.
Full Story: www.fingal-independent.ie
School transport appeals increase 500% in four years [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 06 December 2011
THE number of appeals against decisions on school transport access has increased by more than 500% in just four years, according to Department of Education figures.
The 96 appeals heard this year to date — with five more due to be heard this month — is relatively small in the context of 125,000 children carried to school every day under the e180-million-a-year school transport scheme. But it compares to just 15 cases heard in 2007, and an average 30 per year from 2004 to 2006.
The cases considered so far this year by the School Transport Appeals Board related to bus and other travel arrangements to 60 schools.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
Pupil-teacher ratio increase plans postponed [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 05 December 2011
Plans to raise the pupil-teacher ratio in primary and secondary schools have been dropped from the first instalment of the Budget.
The Irish Times reports the move, which would have seen the ratio rise from September 2012, has been put on hold and will now be up for consideration in 2013.
It was one of the measures leaked to the media ahead of the delivery of the budget by Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin today (December 5th).
The alterations, which also include reductions in child benefit for third and any subsequent children, come following the economic management committee meeting on Friday.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Minister Quinn prioritises frontline services in Education [education.ie]
- Published: 05 December 2011
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn, T.D., today said that while difficult choices had to be made to achieve savings across the Education and Skills budget, the Government had prioritised resources for frontline services in the coming years.
The Education allocation for current expenditure in 2012, including from the National Training Fund, will be €8.604 billion. This represents around 17% of all current expenditure next year. Savings measures being announced today will provide net savings of some €76 million in 2012 increasing to some €241 million in 2014.
Commenting on the Budget announcements Minister Quinn said that “Achieving savings in my Department’s budget has required very difficult decisions to be made particularly at a time when the school going population is increasing.”
The increase in the number of children to be accommodated in our schools means that making some adjustment to teacher numbers is unavoidable given the budgetary constraints.
“The Government has shielded, to the greatest extent possible, frontline services in schools.” the Minister said.
Full Story: www.education.ie
