Minister opposed to return of third-level fees [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 14 June 2011
The Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has stated that he is not in favour of re-introducing fees for third-level students.
Speaking in the Dail last week, the minister said implementing measures that could prevent people from poorer backgrounds from entering higher education is "not desirable".
He added that he has asked the Higher Education Authority to examine the system and come up with proposals that would minimise the burden for students, but still deliver the additional funding the system needs.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Warning on costs of Holy Communion [herald.ie]
- Published: 14 June 2011
Parents of youngsters celebrating their First Holy Communion spend almost 1,000 euro on the day, making the religious industry worth 57 million euro, according to a survey.
Nine and 10-year-olds who received the sacrament were earning on average 468 euro in cash gifts on the day and later spending half of it.
John Monaghan, national vice-president of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SvP), said parents will spend because they do not want their child to stand out from others.
"Our recommendation is to put a little sanity back into it, we need some sense," he said.
"It was never right. It was never justified. It is taking away from the sacrament and focusing on the showbusiness. There are a lot of families who cannot afford to do this."
Full Story: www.herald.ie
Quinn launches Discussion Paper on School Enrolment Policies [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 13 June 2011
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has today launched a discussion document on the issue of how schools select pupils. “The purpose of this discussion paper is to inform consideration by the education partners and other interested parties, of the range of issues and options to be considered in creating a new regulatory framework for application to recognised schools, both in terms of the content of schools’ enrolment policies and the processes operated by schools when enrolling children. “
After the consultative process, the Minister proposes to bring forward legislation to ensure that school enrolment arrangements "support access through inclusive, transparent and fair enrolment policies and practices”
While enrolment policies has been under review by the Department of Education for some years the publication of this discussion paper represents the first concrete initiative towards reform.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Is producing critically-minded citizens a luxury we can't afford? [IrishTimes]
- Published: 13 June 2011
A college in Berlin that combines the best of European and US teaching is asking ‘what should an educated person know’ and two Irish academics are helping find the answer, writes DEREK SCALLY
THE PEACEFUL, leafy streets around Friedrich-Engels-Allee once lay at the heart of East Berlin’s embassy belt. Now eight of the former ambassadors’ villas in Berlin’s northern Pankow district are the laboratory for an educational experiment: the European College of Liberal Arts (ECLA).
Almost a decade old, ECLA is no typical educational institution. Shunning formal departments, the school aims to combine the broad education of the European university ideal with US post-war liberal arts ideas.
ECLA asks the provocative question: what should an educated person know? Helping find the answer are two Irish academics.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Minister for Education and Skills publishes discussion document on Enrolment Policies in schools [education.ie]
- Published: 13 June 2011
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn T.D., today (Monday 13th June) opened the way for an overhaul of the enrolment policies in all schools. Minister Quinn published a discussion document on admissions policy aimed at leading to changes in regulations and legislation on how primary and post primary schools allocate places to students.
“Central to this debate on enrolment is the need to ensure a fair and transparent system at all of our schools, which does not discriminate unfairly against students or parents. At the heart of this paper is the simple question, ‘Can we find a better way for all?’” said Minister Quinn.
“This document is not meant to be prescriptive, nor have any decisions been made as to what elements will be contained in any final regulations or legislation. It is meant to lead and provoke debate on enrolment policies.”
The document, “Discussion Paper on a Regulatory Framework for School Enrolment” contains suggestions on how to make the process of enrolling at either primary or second level schools more open, equitable and consistent.
Full Story: www.education.ie
