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All second level schools to get high speed broadband
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 01/02/2012.Tags: Education And Politics Secondary School News
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All second level schools are to get high speed (100Mbps) broadband, the Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte T.D. and the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairķ Quinn T.D. announced yesterday. The national roll-out will be completed over three stages with 200 schools being connected by September 2012, a further 200 being connected next year and the remaining 250 schools being connected in ... click to read full post & commentsChildren to be taught about internet safety
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 31/01/2012.Tags: Secondary School News
On February 7th, education establishments across Ireland will host a range of activities for school kids aimed at teaching them about how to stay safe when online.
Safer Internet Day (SID) is a global event that aims to make the public more aware of how to avoid issues such as cyberbullying and identity theft.
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UL marks 40th Anniversary with €2,000 Scholarships for 40 Incoming Students
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 06/01/2012.Tags: Education And Politics Secondary School News
The University of Limerick is offering €2,000 entrance scholarships to 40 students to mark the occasion of its 40th Anniversary this year. The 40 scholarships will be offered to students who will begin their undergraduate studies in the Autumn Semester for the Academic Year 2012/13. Speaking about the UL40 Scholarships Professor Paul McCutcheon, Vice President Academic & Registrar of the University of Limerick said ... click to read full post & comments
Junior Cycle reforms 'should be put on hold'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 23/12/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Proposals to radically reform the Junior Cycle need to be postponed until after cuts to education in Ireland have been reversed.
This is according to the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland, which stated such changes cannot be sustained with the second-level system in its current weakened state.
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Report highlights "clear lessons" for education system
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 14/12/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
A review of secondary schools in Ireland has identified a number of areas in which the quality of the education system can be improved.
The Improving Second-Level Education: Using Evidence for Policy Development report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) highlighted three key areas where the country could do better.
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League tables criticised by teaching union
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 24/11/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
One of Ireland's largest teaching unions has criticised the use of college entry league tables, arguing they do not give a true reflection of a school's performance.
Pat King, general secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI), stated the rankings "present a shallow, incomplete and distorted picture of the work of schools."
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Secondary school inspections to start this month
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 13/10/2011.Tags: Secondary School News Teachers
Secondary schools will begin seeing the arrival of inspectors examining the standards of education at the facilities from later this month.
The one-day visits will be focusing on aspects of teaching, student achievement and the support services available to pupils.
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Minister Quinn meets with Educational Book Publishers to Reduce School Book Costs
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 11/10/2011.Tags: Secondary School News Primary School News
The Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn TD has welcomed the commitment by the main educational publishers to give substantial discounts to schools that run book rental schemes.The commitment was made at a meeting yesterday with representatives of the publishers which was called to discuss proposals to reduce the cost of school books for parents. This was the second meeting with the publishers since the Minister took up office.
Mr Quinn had proposed that schools ... click to read full post & comments
NCCA approves Junior Certificate replacement plans
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 26/09/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Proposals for replacing the Junior Certificate could result in children sitting fewer exams and being able to use roles in school musicals or other activities to count towards their qualification.
The new plans may come into force as soon as 2014 if they are given the go-ahead by Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn, with the first students to be examined for the revised qualification in 2017.
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Technology 'set to replace' bulky textbooks
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 22/09/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Thousands of students in Ireland may have their school books replaced this year with gadgets such as e-readers and tablet PCs.
The Irish Independent reports that 27 schools around the country are taking part in an initiative led by publisher Edco to introduce digitised versions of textbooks into the classroom.
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Exam focus 'leads to narrow Leaving Certificate courses'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 21/09/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Many Leaving Certificate subjects offer students a narrow range of learning experiences, with a heavy focus on "covering the course", according to a new report.
A study by the Economic and Social Research Institute also revealed many sixth-year students feel they have a very heavy workload, with exam preparations revolving around practising previous papers.
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Junior Certificate reforms 'must improve learning experience'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 16/09/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Planned reforms to the Junior Certificate must be implemented carefully to ensure a new system is beneficial to students' learning.
This is according to president of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland Brendan Broderick, who stated that while his union is broadly in favour of the plans, modifying the system for the sake of change or simply to cut costs "would be detrimental".
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Junior Certificate students learn results
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 14/09/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Nearly 57,000 students across Ireland will find out the results of their Junior Certificate exams today.
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn congratulated all those who sat the tests for their hard work, stating that pupils, teachers and parents should all be proud of their achievements.
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University lottery system 'may be a disincentive'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 08/09/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Professor Aine Hyland has raised concerns regarding the introduction of a new lottery system for school kids applying for university places.
The former Vice-President of University College Cork admitted this kind of scheme could mean students do not have an incentive to do well, the Independent reports.
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Proposals 'could spell changes for college admissions'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 07/09/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
A new report due for publication today (September 7th) may mean major changes for school kids who have just received their Leaving Cert results.
Proposals suggest college places could be allocated to students in two different ways, the Irish Times reports.
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Teachers express concerns over education reforms
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 19/08/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Secondary school teachers have stated their opposition to several key proposals to reform the education system that have been put forward by the government.
A meeting of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) set to take place next week is expected to raise objections to ideas such as more continuous assessment and unannounced inspections, the Irish Times reported.
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Minister stresses commitment to broadband for schools
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 08/08/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
More secondary schools in Ireland may be able to take advantage of a high-speed broadband connection as plans to equip every establishment in the country with the technology move forward.
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte stated the rollout will be a vital part of improving ICT teaching and building a skilled workforce for the future.
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Changes to pupil-teacher ratios 'will damage key subjects'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 05/08/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
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.
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Junior Certificate set for major reforms
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 12/07/2011.Tags: Education And Politics Secondary School News
Large-scale changes to the way in which the Junior Certificate is assessed may take place in the future if plans detailed yesterday (July 11th) by the Education Minister Ruairi Quinn are put in place.
Over the next five to ten years, the current method of grading pupils' performance based solely on exams is likely to be replaced with a system of continuous assessment where coursework is given a much higher priority, the Irish Independent reports.
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Thousands of students complete exams
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 27/06/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Last Friday (June 24th) saw thousands of students across the country complete their Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate exams.
According to figures from the Department of Education, over 116,000 candidates successfully completed the two and a half week exam period, which saw tests being taken in over 90 curricular subjects at higher, ordinary and foundation levels.
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Higher maths paper "difficult", teachers say
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 13/06/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Students taking higher maths as part of their Leaving Certificate may have found the first paper they sat last week very challenging, as it contained several tricky questions.
This is the analysis of the examination by maths spokesperson for ASTI Brigid Cleary, who highlighted questions four and six as especially tough, RTE reports.
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Quinn launches Discussion Paper on School Enrolment Policies
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 13/06/2011.Tags: Education And Politics Primary School News Secondary School News
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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 ... click to read full post & comments(1)
'Balanced approach' vital to exam success
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 09/06/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Students who have begun sitting their Junior and Leaving Certificate exams this week have been advised to take a balanced approach to their timetable.
Jack Keane, president of ASTI, explained that careful planning during revision will help keep stress levels to a minimum, while it is essential to take frequent breaks to maintain clarity and stamina.
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Fewer Leaving Certificate students to take higher maths exam
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 07/06/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
The number of students who will take higher maths exams for the Leaving Certificate this week has fallen to its lowest total ever, new figures have revealed.
A total of 10,435 candidates are registered for the exam on Friday (June 10th), but the Irish Times reports that around one in five are expected to drop down to ordinary maths on the morning of the assessment.
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'Fewer students' heading to Gaeltacht for summer courses
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 06/06/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
The impact of the recession has led to a reduction in the number of students travelling to summer colleges in the Gaeltacht to improve their spoken Irish.
According to the Irish Independent, numbers are down from a peak of around 28,000 in 2008 to an expected 25,000 this year.
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Time management 'key to exam success'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 27/05/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Students who will be sitting their Junior or Leaving Certificate exams in the coming weeks may be able to benefit from some revision tips that have been suggested by one publication.
The Irish Independent spoke to several experts, who agreed that good planning during both revision periods and the tests themselves will be crucial to success.
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More students than ever sitting Leaving Certificate
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 13/05/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
The numbers of students staying on in school to complete their Leaving Certificate exams is at its highest level ever.
This is according to a new report from the Department of Education, which revealed fewer boys are dropping out early, RTE reports.
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New technology to see end of roll calls?
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 12/05/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
The days of teachers running through a register to check that students are in attendance may be nearing an end thanks to new technology.
Two schools in the country have begun trialling face-recognition software to keep tabs on their pupils, with others set to follow suit in September, the Irish Independent reports.
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Funding confirmed for school improvements
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 09/05/2011.Tags: Primary School News Secondary School News
The government has confirmed a package of 30 million euros worth of funding that will be used to improve hundreds of schools.
Works to get under way later this year that were confirmed by a spokeswoman for Education Minister Ruairi Quinn will include "shovel-ready" refurbishments to at least 380 primary and secondary schools, the Irish Times reports.
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Number of secondary school pupils in Galway to increase
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 04/05/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
The number of pupils to take places at secondary schools in Galway over the next few years is expected to surge.
Deputy secretary of the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) Annette Nolan told the Galway Independent that she anticipates a rising proportion of second-level children in the area.
She said: "The demographics are there and it's clear that there will be a 20 per cent increase in student numbers in second level over the next 12 years."
However, Ms Nolan voiced her concern over the impact this is likely to have on the education system, noting that while the number of pupils is increasing, the availability of resources, funding and teaching staff is not.
She stated that this will force schools to drop subjects, which will then have an impact on the wider community as these are needed to "spur on the economy and bring change".
The TUI representative went on to emphasise the importance of investing in education, saying it is "counterproductive to make cutbacks" in this area.
General secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland Pat King agreed, saying "there is no fat" left in the education system to make further budget reductions.
Written by Donal Walsh
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Leaving Certificate reforms 'are too old after six-year wait'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 20/04/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Changes to the Leaving Certificate have come too late following a delay in funding, it has been said.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment had rejected reforms to the test subjects for secondary school pupils, saying they are now out of date, the Irish Independent reported.
According to the group, the new syllabuses, which were designed in 2005, are now redundant and need to be overhauled again.
The Department of Education failed to implement the reforms for the last six years as it claimed there was a lack of finance to make the huge transformation of the examinations.
It is thought that establishing the 2005 version of the art syllabus would set the budget back 2.1 million euros for teacher training and equipment, while technology and economics subjects would also cost millions.
These high costs suggest that even setting up the changes first considered in 2005 would be too dear for the Department of Education as it is currently under strict budget restrictions.
Education Minister recently told the Irish Times that the country's tough economic conditions could affect teaching staff as they may have to face salary reductions and redundancies.
Written by Donal Walsh
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BT launches 2012 Exhibition with €2 million investment
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 06/04/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
BT launched the 2012 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition yesterday calling on students to begin to prepare their projects for the 2012 exhibition. The closing for entry is 3rd October 2011, and the company is hoping to break a new record for entry numbers in 2012.
At the launch BT, who have been involved in the Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition for the past 12 years, confirmed that it will invest a further €2 million over the next 3 years. It also announced that it “will increase its Travel & Accommodation grant by 50 percent to €75,000. The grant will be a boost to schools across the island of Ireland that require extra financial support to travel and stay in Dublin for the annual fair and competition in January.”
Graham Sutherland, Chief Executive Officer, BT Ireland, said, “We believe the exhibition ticks all the right boxes for the country, its students and BT – it helps stimulate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) skills, encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, and gives a much-needed lift to spirits.”
He added, “Innovation and skills are critical to the success of economies and major brands like BT, and through the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, we can seek to encourage bright young minds to invent new products and services, start enterprises, generate exports and ultimately create jobs.”
Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD, said, “The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, which is now entering its 48th year, gives young people a great opportunity to move beyond the classroom and to display their originality and research skills to great practical effect.” “It provides the motivation and stimulus to encourage today’s students to strive to be at the forefront of research and innovation in tomorrow’s world and continuing to encourage our young people to be interested in science and technology is vitally important to the economy.”
The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition will take place in the RDS, Dublin from January 11th – 15th 2012.
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Schools could split Irish education in two
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 18/03/2011.Tags: Secondary School News Teachers News
Secondary school education in Ireland could be set for a major overhaul.
Language Commissioner Sean O Cuirreain stated that the teaching of Irish in the education system could be divided up into two different strands, reports the Irish Independent.
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Parents told how to get teenagers motivated by school
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 15/03/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Parents of secondary school pupils have received tips on how to get their children interested in education.
Social worker and psychotherapist John Sharry has given his advice to mothers and fathers in an article for the Irish Times.
... click to read full post & comments
Ireland's top secondary schools announced
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 14/03/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Ireland's top 400 secondary schools have been named in a newspaper survey.
The Sunday Times' Parent Power Survey has listed the educational establishments in a league table, ranking the schools on the proportion of students they have going on to higher education.
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World Book Day 2011 'set to benefit secondary school children'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 04/03/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
World Book Day 2011 will benefit pupils in secondary schools across Ireland as well as their primary school counterparts, it has been suggested.
According to the Guardian, the event, which took place yesterday (March 3rd), involved some 14 million book tokens distributed to attendees of schools across the country and the UK in order to encourage pupils to develop their reading skills.
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Government announces plans for third-level college developments
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 22/02/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
The government has revealed its plans to build third-level colleges, which could be of note to secondary school pupils in Ireland.
Earlier this week, it was confirmed that six facilities will be developed on four college campuses, under the Public Private Partnership scheme.
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DCU encourages kids' activities in computing with IT course
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 21/02/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Secondary school pupils have had the opportunity to develop their computer skills through an IT programme organised by Dublin City University (DCU).
Over the last month, more than 400 students in the Transition Year have been able to take part in the ComputeTY course.
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Kellogg's Fun Raise 4 kids 2011 has started
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 21/02/2011.Tags: Secondary School News Primary School News
2011 marks the 10th year that Kellogg's has partnered with the Children's Medical & Research Foundation to help raise vital funds for Our Lady's Children's Hospital. So far, more than 100,000 students and teachers have got active whilst raising money for this enormously worthwhile cause.So what do Teachers and Students have to do? All you have to do is organise a sporting event at your school. It can be something as simple as a student-teacher tug-of-war or maybe something a little more exciting like a dance-off, Pyjama Race or skip-a-thon. You choose the activity, but don't forget that the most creative event will win a special prize
So get to Kelloggs.ie and get creative!
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Parents angry over fees for school kids taking oral Irish
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 17/02/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Parents have spoken out against the government's plans to impose charges on secondary school students who choose to take oral Irish in their Junior Certificate examinations.
President of the National Parents' Council (post primary) Tommy Walshe stated that the plans to charge extra for this test are not acceptable, the Irish Independent reported.
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New IT education facility opened in Dundalk
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 15/02/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
A new IT facility has been opened in Dundalk, which could be of interest to those in secondary school thinking about their college choices.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen opened the DkIT School of Informatics & Creative Arts at the Dundalk Institute of Technology on Friday (February 11th 2011).
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Parents 'should emphasise importance of maths for school kids'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 14/02/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Parents need to do more to make secondary school children aware of the importance of mathematics, it has been said.
Engineers Ireland's director general John Power told Tech Central that the value of the subject should be impressed on children from an early age.
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Holocaust survivor brings history to life for school kids in Ireland
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 10/02/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
A Holocaust survivor has been giving primary and secondary school children in Ireland the opportunity to have history lessons from a first-hand perspective by making regular visits to educational establishments around the country.
Tomi Reichental, 75, visits two schools every week to give his account of what his experience at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany was like, reports the Irish Independent.
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Ten Irish parents jailed for not sending kids to school
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 01/02/2011.Tags: Secondary School News
Ten parents have been sent to prison for failing to make sure their children attended primary or secondary school.
A report in the Irish Examiner has used figures from the National Education Welfare Board (NEWB) to reveal that 94 summonses were issued against parents last year.
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