29th January 2009 - Principals Demand Mandatory Reporting
A survey of primary principals taken in the week prior to the revelations from the Roscommon trial shows that 85% of primary school principals want mandatory reporting legislation to be brought in to protect children at risk. At their annual conference in Killarney, over 900 Primary Principals, members of the Irish Primary Principals' Network will hear a strong call for more effective child protection measures.
29th January 2009 - Golden Opportunity to Reform Primary Education
900 Primary school Principals at the Irish Primary Principals' Network's (IPPN) annual Conference in Killarney are today asking the Minister for Education and Science to deliver key reforms to the way in which funding and staffing is allocated to primary schools. Responding to the economic reality, Principals have identified that the current crisis which has led to major cutbacks in education also presents a golden opportunity for reform. They want out-moded practices which inhibit primary schools from operating to their true potential to be replaced with modern, common-sense best practice.
28th January 2009 - Divert Childcare Supplement to Address Class Size
At the annual IPPN conference in Killarney, over 900 principals will hear Larry Fleming, President; express deep concern at the challenges facing primary schools in the new economic reality. "In this time of scarce resources, the Government commitment to reducing class sizes will simply not be met. Within the 28:1 pupil teacher ratio, we must prioritise those children for whom class size is most important; Junior Infants and the class of the teaching principal."
28th January 2009 - Are Education Agencies Really Working?
Principals clearly identify the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) as the agency that has the most positive effect on children in schools. They are also one of the agencies that impact least on the administrative work of the school.
