21st December 2009 - Children bearing Gifts - Recession is not Affecting
Last Friday, an eight year old girl arrived in her County Dublin School with a €200 voucher for her teacher, for an upmarket city centre department store. This practise of children showering their teachers with expensive Christmas gifts will reach epidemic proportions over the next few days. The phenomenon became widespread during the Celtic Tiger era and IPPN members throughout the length and breadth of the country report that it is showing little sign of waning.
18th December 2009 - Principals Demand Accountability in Relation to Child Protection in Primary Schools
Despite the belated resignation of Dr Donal Murray, Bishop of Limerick, Primary School Principals still have deep rooted concerns in relation to Child Protection in Primary Schools in Ireland.
A recent IPPN survey of over 630 Primary School Principals nationwide revealed that while almost all schools have a Child Protection Policy in place, a worrying minority (2%) did not have an up to date policy. Principals also want the current Child Protection Guidelines put on a statutory footing.
9th December - Statement by the Irish Primary Principals’ Network on Budget 2010
The Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) welcomes some of the measures in Budget 2010 which have secured key aspects of primary education funding. These include;
• Maintenance of the Capitation Grant at the current level. This has been a priority issue for IPPN over the last 5 years as it is fundamental to the financial security of schools
• Provision made for increasing the number of psychologists (NEPS) to 210. IPPN surveys of Principals continuously report that the Education Psychological Service is the most important of all external supports to the primary school system
• Commitment to fund new mental health initiatives. This area has been the focus of IPPN campaigns in recent years
• Continuation of the School Building Programme and the Summer Works Scheme
• Additional funding for school books and support for curricular activities (In the absence of detail, this measure is welcomed subject to it being the reinstatement of the free book scheme for disadvantaged children in mainstream schools).
2nd December 2009 - Pre-Budget Statement by the National Alliance for Primary Education
In a pre-Budget statement issued today (Wednesday 2nd December), the National Alliance for Primary Education is reminding the Government that the Primary education system is a fundamental corner-stone of economic progress. It is one of the critical keys to unlocking a fairer society said the Alliance. The system simply cannot sustain any more damage. If Primary education is neglected in the Budget, it will further set back the process of economic recovery and growth, and will do long-term, fundamental damage to the principles of fairness and equity for all our children added the Alliance.
