Méid an Téacs

Amhras léirithe faoi shuirbhéanna ar phátrúnacht

Nollaig 21, 2012

Tá sé ráite ag an bhForas Pátrúnachta gur gá a bheith ‘staidéartha’ i leith torthaí na tuairisce a d’fhoilsigh an Roinn Oideachais an tseachtain seo caite faoi phátrúnacht ar scoileanna.

Dúirt Caoimhín Ó hEarra, Ard-Rúnaí ma heagraíochta: “Is léir go bhfuil tuismitheoirí ag lorg rogha oideachais dá bpáistí agus tá súil againn tríd an bpróiseas go mbeidh oideachas lánGhaeilge á chur ar fáil i gceantair nach bhfuil i láthair na huaire.”

Dhírigh an suirbhé píolótach ar chúig cheantar ar leith; an tInbhear Mór, Caisleán an Bharraigh, an Trá Mhór, Baile Átha Troim agus Fionnbhrú.  Ghlac 1,788 tuismitheoir a raibh leanaí réamhscoile agus bunscoile acu páirt sna suirbhéanna i mí Dheireadh Fómhair.

Léirigh idir 10% agus 21% gurbh fhearr leo oideachas lánGhaeilge dá bpáistí.  Tá Gaelscoileanna sna cúig cheantar cheana féin agus dúirt an tuairisc gur féidir leo freastal ar an éileamh reatha don Ghaelscolaíocht.

Mhaígh Ó hEaghra go raibh laigeachtaí ag baint leis an suirbhé de bharr líon íseal na dtuismitheoirí a ghlac páirt ann.  “Os rud é go raibh scoileanna lánGhaeilge sna ceantair sin is léir go raibh tuismitheoirí chun dul i dtreo an rogha nach raibh ar fáil ina gceantar,” ar seisean.

“Is ábhar imní é nach bhfuil léargas níos iomláine á fháil ar mhianta tuismitheoirí.  Bhí an suirbhé ag díriú ar phátrúnacht, ar shainspiorad spioradálta na scoile agus ar theanga na scoile ach ba léir go ndearna na meáin Bhéarla neamhaird ar cheist na teanga agus iad ag clúdach an tsuirbhé i rith an phróisis,” a dúirt sé.

Léirigh an tAthair Micheal Drumm, as Comhpháirtíocht na Scoileanna Caitliceacha amhras i dtaobh na bhfigiúirí chomh maith.  Dúirt sé nach dtugann na figiúirí sa suirbhé léargas ceart ar thuairimí tuismitheoirí an cheantair agus d’iarr sé ar an Roinn Oideachais na figiúirí a chur i gcomhthéacs mór-phobail scoile an cheantair.

Tá an Roinn Oideachais chun suirbhé níos forleithne a dhéanamh sa bhliain úr in 38 ceantar eile.  Dar leis an bhForas Pátrúnachta beidh torthaí éagsúla ar an tuairisc mar go mbeidh ceantair atá gan soláthar gaelscoile san áireamh.

“Tá sé curtha in iúl ag an bhForas Pátrúnachta ó thosaigh an próiseas seo gur fhás scoileanna lánGhaeilge ó éileamh na dtuismitheoirí,” arsa Ó hEaghra.

“Go stairiúil, tosaíonn siad beag ach nuair a thuigeann an pobal áitiúil na buntáistí a bhaineann le hoideachas lánGhaeilge tagann fás agus borradh ar scoileanna.

“Ina theannta sin, tá gá le hardú feasachta i measc an phobail go ginearálta maidir le buntáistí oideachas dátheangach,” ar seisean.

www.gaelsceal.ie
Foilsithe ar 19 Nollaig 2012

Aighneachtaí maidir le Polasaí Gaeilge do RTÉ

Nollaig 20, 2012

Cén cineál meáin Ghaeilge ar mhian leat go gcuirfidh RTÉ ar fáil? Ar mhaith leat go gcuireadh RTÉ a polasaí Gaeilge i bhfeidhm trí TG4, cainéal a chur gnáthdhaoine ar bun faoi choinne cainteoirí Gaeilge, seachas ar bhealaí oifigiúla RTÉ 1+2 féin? Béarla amháin ar RTÉ 1+2 agus dátheangachas ar TG4? Tá moltaí déanta sa tuairisc seo nach féidir go mbeadh gach duine ag teacht leo – ach caithfear aighneacht a dhéanamh le go n-áireofar do thuairimse.

Is féidir freagraí agus tagairtí ginearálta a chur chuig teanga@rte.ie faoin teidil: Polasaí Gaeilge do RTÉ. Is é amárach, Dé hAoine, 21 Nollaig, an spriocdháta nua le haghaidh moltaí agus tuairimí.

Seo thíos an nasc chuig an tuarascáil:

http://www.rte.ie/documents/about/straiteis-bheartaithe-maidir-le-haschur-gaeilge-rte.pdf

Gaeilge Locha Riach

Teil: 091 870718
Rphost: oifig@lochariach.com
www.lochariach.com

Earraí na Nollag

Nollaig 20, 2012

Earraí na Nollag ó oifig Gaeilge Locha Riach:

  • Féilire Dhátheangach 2013 Chumann Staire Teaghlaigh Oirthear na Gaillimhe – 1x €7; 2x €10
  • Aibítir na Gaeilge – Míreanna mearaí le Litreacha, Focail agus Pictiúir – €17
  • Leabhar Dathúcháin na Nollag – €4
  • Míreanna mearaí d’Uachtaráin na hÉireann – €14

Póstaer d’earraí na Nollag

Teil: 091 870718
Rphost: oifig@lochariach.com
www.lochariach.com

Scléip 2013 – Dátaí don dialann

Nollaig 19, 2012

Tá áthas orainn na dátaí a fhógairt do Scléip 2013. Ócáidí spraíúla agus spreagúla a bhíonn sna comórtais, do na daltaí rannpháirteacha agus na múinteoirí a chabhraíonn leo, agus tá súil againn go mbeidh an oiread rath ar Scléip na bliana seo is a bhí anuraidh, nuair a ghlac níos mó ná 500 dalta páirt ann. Ba mhaith linn dúshlán a chur roimh na hiomaitheoirí agus deis a thabhairt dóibh ceol, amhráin, cóiréagrafaíocht agus drámaíocht nuachumtha a chur ar stáitse os comhair lucht féachana agus moltóirí proifisiúnta, in amharclanna ó cheann ceann na tíre. Bígí cinnte agus na rialacha a léamh roimh an fhoirm iontrála a chomhlánú!

Tá an comórtas roinnte i 6 rannóg éagsúla, le duais sóisir agus sinsir le bronnadh i ngach rannóg agus Gradam Scléip don duine nó grúpa is fearr san iomlán. Beidh deis ag cách dul san iomaíocht sna réamhbabhtaí agus roghnófar an tallann is fearr le dul ar aghaidh chuig an craobh ceannais.

 

18 Feabhra 2013

Amharclann an Axis, Baile Munna, Baile Átha Cliath

22 Feabhra 2013

Amharclann an Firkin Crane, Corcaigh

26 Feabhra 2013

Amharclann an Riverbank, Droichead Nua, Co. Chill Dara

1 Márta 2013

Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, Doire

 

NB Níl sé i gceist babhta a reáchtáil i nGaillimh i mbliana de dheasca an freastal an-íseal a bhí ar an mbabhta ann le blianta beaga anuas. Tabharfar cuireadh do na scoileanna a bhíodh ag freastal ar an gceann sin freastal ar an mbabhta san Axis ar an 18 Feabhra ina ionad. Is oth linn go gcuirfidh seo turas bhreise ar roinnt scoileanna ach tá súil againn go mbeidh eispéireas na ndaltaí níos fearr san Axis – beidh rannpháirtíocht níos airde agus atmaisféar sceitimíneach ann. Cuirfear deontas ar fáil le cabhrú leis na costais taistil a chlúdach faoin scéim imeachtaí idirscoile, ní gá ach teagmháil a dhéanamh linn más mian leis an scoil leas a bhaint as.

Beidh craobh ceannais Scléip ar siúl in amharclann an Axis, Baile Munna, Baile Átha Cliath ar an 9 Márta.

An dáta deiridh d’iontrálacha ná an 18 Eanáir 2013. Má tá aon cheist ina leith nó aon amhras ort faoin rannóg is feiliúnaí duit, tá gach fáilte romhat teagmháil a dhéanamh le Clare ar 01 8535193 nó cspainneach@gaelscoileanna.ie.

Changing school patronage

Nollaig 19, 2012

Sir, – The extremely low participation in the survey on school patronage is not surprising. Every effort was made to keep this survey as low key as possible.

The online survey received very little coverage in the media and information on the Department of Education website presented so many different options and possibilities that it would seem that the vast majority of parents just decided that the best thing to do would be nothing at all. As predicted only those who are fanatical about change voted.

According to your article, (“School Patronage survey queried”, Home News, December 14th) just 4 per cent (parents of 80 children out of a school population of 1,965 in Arklow) voted for change. The Department of Education is releasing only the figures for those who have voted for change and not the exact statistics on the percentage of parents who participated. Mini ster for Education Ruairí Quinn has said results in the five pilot areas show a “strong demand for change”.

Yet Fr Michael Drumm of the Catholic Schools Partnership says, “Those who expressed an opinion in favour of change amount in each of the five areas to less than 10 per cent of parents”.

Who is right; and is the department going to act on the whim of such a small minority? May I remind Mr Quinn that when only 35 per cent of the electorate voted on the Nice treaty in 2001 we were told that we would have to vote again. Even when 53 per cent voted on the Lisbon Treaty in 2008 we were told that because we did not understand the issues we would have to vote again.

We pride ourselves on our democracy, but to impose the biggest change in primary education since the setting up of the national schools on the basis of such a slender minority vote would be dictatorial and not democratic.

– Yours, etc,

AM KEHOE,
Roselawn Road, Castleknock, Dublin 15.

www.irishtimes.com

Neamhchinnteacht maidir le todhchaí eagraíochtaí Gaeilge

Nollaig 19, 2012

Ní léir fós cad atá i ndán do na 19 eagraíocht Ghaeilge atá bunmhaoinithe ag Foras na Gaeilge ó shocraigh Airí ón dá dhlínse thuaidh agus theas an cinneadh a chur ar athlá go dtí 2013.

Reáchtáladh cruinniú d’fhoras teanga na Comhairle Aireachta Thuaidh Theas in Ard Mhacha ar an 12 Nollaig 2012.

Bhí togra Fhoras na Gaeilge maidir le struchtúr úr maoinithe do na heagrais bhunmhaoinithe le plé ag na hAirí agus bhí an tuairim ann go forleathan go mbeadh sé faofa ag an gComhairle Aireachta.

Ní dhéanfar plé ar an struchtúr úr maoinithe go dtí céad chruinniú eile na Comhairle san earrach.

www.foinse.ie

Cinneadh ar bith faoi mhaoiniú an Fhorais

Nollaig 19, 2012

Ní dhearna Foras Teanga na Comhairle Aireachta Thuaidh Theas socrú ar bith maidir le maoiniú eagras Gaeilge ag an gcruinniú deireanach a bhí acu, Dé Céadaoin seo caite.

Eisíodh ráiteas i ndiaidh an chruinnithe: “Ag aithint an riachtanas atá le hathrú san earnáil, phléigh na hAirí athbhreithniú Fhoras na Gaeilge ar an bunmhaoiniú a bheidh mar ábhar plé ag an gcéad chruinniú eile i bhformáid rannach an Fhorais Teanga in 2013.”

Bhí Airí na Roinne Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta, Jimmy Deenihan agus Dinny McGinley, agus a gcomhghleacaithe ón Roinn Cultúir, Ealaíon agus Fóillíochta ó Thuaidh, Cearál Ní Chuilín agus Johnathan Bell, i láthair ag an gcruinniú.

Mhol an Foras an tSamhail Nua Mhaoinithe mar mhúnla nua maoinithe d’eagrais ach tarraingíodh sin siar agus tuigtear go bhfuil plean nua ar na bacáin. Mar chuid de seo, beidh ne ceann-eagraíochtaí uilig lonnaithe i mBaile Átha Cliath.

Dar le ráiteas ón Aire Ní Chuilín, níl sí sásta leis seo. Ar an 11 Deireadh Fómhair sa Tionól, thug sí freagra ar cheist ó Dhominic Ó Brolcháin: “Deimhním 100% go dtroidfidh mé ar son na n-eagras atá bunaithe anseo sa Tuaisceart,” ar sise.

Beidh an céad cruinniú eile de Bhord an Fhorais ar siúl ar an 25 Eanáir. Ní fios dáta an chruinnithe den Chomhairle Aireachta, ná an t-amscála atá ag an bhForas chun scéim nua mhaoinithe a chur i bhfeidhm.

www.gaelsceal.ie

Ní leanann Foras na Gaeilge na rialacha atá acu féin

Nollaig 19, 2012

Chaith Foras na Gaeilge €210,753 ar tháillí dlí le linn 2009 agus 2010 ar cheist a bhain le cúrsaí pinsin a bhfoirne.

Caitheadh an t-airgead sin gan “comórtas oscailte” a eagrú – rud a sháraíonn rialacha an fhorais féin. De réir na tuarascála bliantúla agus na gcuntas do 2009, d’fhostaigh an foras dhá chomhlacht dlí lena gcuid riachtanas pinsin a fhiosrú i ndiaidh gur theip ar an eagras “ranníocaíochtaí fostaithe a bhaint agus a íoc go tráthúil” agus “gan eolas a nochtadh nó a chur ar fáil a iarrtar faoin statúid nó ó riarthóirí an phinsin”.

Cuireadh na cuntais ar fáil i ndiaidh chruinniú Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh/Theas (CATT) an tseachtain seo caite.

D’eisigh cathaoirleach an fhorais, Liam Ó Maoilmhichíl, ráiteas á rá go raibh ar an bhord “iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar an cheist ar bhealach gairmiúil neamhspleách le bheith ábalta (i) géilliúlacht a chinntiú agus (ii) lena chinntiú nach dtarlódh a leithéid arís”.

Dúirt sé nach raibh “mí-úsáid” ná caillteanas airgid i gceist, go raibh sé sásta go bhfuair siad réiteach sásúil ar an cheist agus, bíodh is go ndearnadh an soláthar seo taobh amuigh den ghnáthchur chuige, rinneadh mar “ábhar práinne” é. Rud “neamhghnách” a bhí ann nach ndéanfaí “in athuair”.

Cuireann an scéala droch-chríoch ar dhrochbhliain eile ag an fhoras. Bhí ar an eagras an tSamhail Úr Mhaoinithe a chaitheamh i leataobh le linn an tsamhraidh, samhail a bhí le bonn nua a chur faoi chúrsaí maoinithe na n-eagras, thuaidh agus theas.

Lena chois sin, ní raibh an foras ábalta teacht ar mhúnla nua maoinithe go fóill a bheadh inghlactha. D’fhógair an Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh/Theas an Chéadaoin seo caite go leanfaí den status quo ó thaobh struchtúir de go ceann tamaill bhig eile.

Tháinig an scéala sin sna sála ar chomhfhreagas ón fhoras chun na n-eagras á rá leo nach dtiocfadh leo a bheith cinnte de mhaoiniú fadtéarmach ar an bhliain seo chugainn.

Chuir na heagraíochtaí deonacha a míshástacht leis an fhoras faoin phróiseas nua maoinithe in iúl d’Aire Stáit na Gaeltachta, Dinny McGinley, agus d’Aire Cultúir Thuaisceart Éireann, Carál Ní Chuilín, i litir roimh an chruinniú CATT.

Dúirt siad go raibh roinnt cruinnithe ann ach nach raibh próiseas comhairliúcháin mar ba cheart faoi mholtaí nua agus go raibh “an-imní” orthu nach raibh ionchur acu sa phróiseas. D’iarr siad ar lucht CATT gan moltaí ar bith a chur chun cinn go dtí go mbeadh gach eagras eolach orthu.

Bhí fadhbanna inmheánacha ag an fhoras fosta. Léiríonn miontuairiscí de chuid an fhorais go raibh seisiún iata, is é sin, druidte, ag na comhaltaí boird, ag deireadh Mheithimh i mbliana inar thug an cathaoirleach, Liam Ó Maoilmhichíl, “uasdátú don bhord ar an phróiseas smachta. Thug an bord cead don chathaoirleach agus don leas-chathaoirleach bille ó na dlíodóirí a shíniú ar son an bhoird.”

D’fhiafraigh an colún seo den fhoras cad é na sonraí a bhain leis an phróiseas ach freagraíodh gur “ceist inmheánach í seo atá faoi réir na rialacha cosanta sonraí agus ní bheidh Foras na Gaeilge ag déanamh trácht ar bith ina leith”. Ceisteanna arís Ní den chéad uair, cuireann tú ceist ort féin faoi éifeacht an fhorais. Chuir an t-eagras olc ar eagraíochtaí deonacha ar feadh blianta lena samhail nua mhaoinithe. Ní ann don tsamhail áirithe sin níos mó ach maireann an t-olc i gcónaí.

Beidh tréimhse éiginnte eile stocaireachta ar siúl sula n-éireoidh leis an fhoras agus leis na heagraíochtaí teacht ar chomhréiteach – rud nach gcuidíonn le cur chun cinn na teanga.

Dá olcas sin, is measa arís an scéala nua seo. Beidh na heagraíochtaí a fhaigheann maoiniú ón fhoras ag déanamh iontais de gur chaith an foras €210,000 ar tháillí dlí gan chomórtas poiblí a reáchtáil. Suim ollmhór airgid atá ann féin agus ní go réidh a luíonn ráitis chráifeacha an fhorais faoi luach airgid phoiblí a fháil agus an cás áirithe seo.

Bhí teip amháin ann, mar sin, nár chomhlíon an foras a gcuid dualgas i leith pinsin agus bhain an dara teip leis an socrú comhlachtaí dlí a fhostú gan tairiscint phoiblí a dhéanamh – agus an scéal ar fad le fáil i gcúpla líne taobh istigh de thuarascáil atá i gcló trí bliana mall.

www.irishtimes.com

‘We need to review the time spent on certain subjects’

Nollaig 18, 2012

Pupils in a number of countries are performing significantly above Irish students

‘Good, but could do better,” seems to be the verdict of two major international reports on pupil achievement published last week. They showed fourth-class pupils in primary schools achieving well in reading, mathematics and science. In all three areas, Irish pupils scored significantly above the international average.

In the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS 2011), Irish students were ranked 10th out of 45 participating countries. Students in only five places performed significantly better than Irish students: Hong Kong, Finland, Singapore, the Russian Federation and Northern Ireland.

Irish students scored significantly above the international average in both maths and science in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS 2011). Ireland was placed 17th in maths and 22nd in science out of the 50 participating countries.

Of course, pencil and paper tests don’t tell us everything about what children are learning in school, but it is an important part of our Literacy and Numeracy Strategy that we should benchmark the performance of Irish students against that of students in other countries. Until now, we have had no such indicators at primary level and so the TIMSS and PIRLS reports are significant and welcome.

Even though these are just one set of test results, it’s encouraging to see Irish students do so well in international comparisons. It is particularly good to see Ireland having substantially lower proportions of poorer-performing students in both reading and maths than in other countries. The efforts that we have put into our DEIS programme to support schools serving areas of disadvantage, and the special needs resources that we have deployed in all schools, are having a positive effect.

But it’s my duty not to be complacent.

Pupils in a number of countries are performing significantly above Irish students in all three tests. So, there is still work to be done to raise standards in Irish schools.Our neighbours in Northern Ireland have achieved significantly better results in mathematics, for example, and students in many countries are scoring much better in science.

The comprehensive programme laid out in the National Literacy and Numeracy strategy has the range of measures that we need to improve reading and maths standards. We have made a good start. Teacher education is being reformed. Schools are working to improve instruction, assessment and reporting to parents. The introduction of school self-evaluation and the improvements we have made to the inspection of schools are further important supports for better learning.

TIMSS and PIRLS demonstrate that we must continue this work. The good progress achieved by students in reading at primary level must be built upon in all primary schools and also at second level. I have prioritised English in the reform of Junior Cycle and work is well underway in the implementation of the literacy and numeracy strategy in many second-level schools.

However, the inspectorate’s report on the implementation of DEIS at post-primary level showed considerable weaknesses in the targeting of DEIS initiatives in post-primary schools and we need to improve this aspect of our work.

The areas of weakness in maths among Irish pupils shown up in TIMSS – such as reasoning, shape and measures – are precisely the areas shown as weak in our national assessments at primary level. It’s not surprising that the weaknesses in maths at primary level are also evident at post-primary level. These are among the areas targeted for change in Project Maths. Indeed, these issues point to the need for higher standards of mathematical understanding among all teachers – a key aim of the changes we are making to teachers’ professional development.

TIMSS also challenges us to think about the importance we attach to different aspects of the curriculum. The performance of students in science is somewhat disappointing, although Irish students are above the international average. One underlying reason may be the lack of science skills among primary-school teachers, but the TIMSS study shows that Irish pupils spend considerably less time on science than pupils in other countries.

I have asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to review the recommended time allocations for all subjects in the primary school.

I look forward to the inclusive debate that we must have on this issue for the future good of all our young people.

http://www.irishtimes.com

Foilsithe ar 18 Nollaig 2012

What will happen in education in 2013?

Nollaig 18, 2012

It’s time to find out who in education has been naughty or nice and how the New Year will look in the classroom

22% Percentage of Leaving Cert students who sat higher-level maths this year – the highest on record.

66,891 Total number of applications for student grants to new SUSI. Only 20,589 have been processed to date.

€ 30,702 Salary of new entrants to teaching. In 2010, it was more than ¤39,000.

From page 6 There will be increasing speculation about Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn’s future.

Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn can reflect on 2012 with quiet satisfaction. Key elements of his reform programme, such as changes to the Junior Cert and school patronage, are up and running. Further reforms are planned.

The Minister, now aged 66, insists he is there for the long haul, all the way to the next election. But it’s been a long time since any education minister completed five years in Marlborough Street. Quinn is the fifth person to hold the portfolio since 2004. With a Cabinet reshuffle due in September after the EU presidency, there is already speculation that Richard Bruton could move to education, although surely Labour would would want to retain the education portfolio?

Quinn, a distinguished former president of Ecofin-EU finance ministers, will also be linked to the EU commissioner post which falls vacant next summer. Labour has never held the post and a heavy hitter such as Quinn would secure a very senior post; and that could be important in key discussions on our debt burden. So will Quinn be in education this time next year? No one, least of all the Minister himself, is sure

With Quinn unlikely to contest the next election, there will also be pressure from some in the party to move on.

So will Quinn be in education this time next year? No one, least of all the Minister himself, is sure.

What’s certain is there will be a wave of speculation about his future. The hope must be that it will not derail or slow down his reform agenda.

Northern Ireland will become the new Finland.

For year we have looked north to Finland for education’s promised land. But the latest international rankings for primary schools suggest that the promised land may actually be up the road.

Northern Ireland is among the elite performers in both reading and maths where it significantly outperformed the Republic.

Its secret? A concerted move to boost standards in literacy and numeracy and radical reform of teacher education.

The good news is that similar reforms are already under way south of the Border.

There will be speculation about a new working contract for teachers as part of Croke Park Two.

It has been a good year in hard times for the teacher unions, the INTO, Asti and the TUI. Croke Park has protected pay, conditions and jobs, except for new entrants, and there has been no increase in class size for most schools. But there are already signs the Government is targeting the working conditions of teachers, especially at second level where teachers work 167 days a year.

It may be that the Government will press for a new teaching contract where second level teachers are required to be on the school premises during office hours every day. There could also be changes to arrangements for oral exam and much else.

President Higgins will become even more outspoken on education.

The President launched a number of thinly veiled attacks on the “pro-business” agenda of the UCD president, Hugh Brady, and other university leaders in 2012. Expect more robust comments as the Government targets academic working hours and performance-related pay in Croke Park Two.

Opposition to the new Junior Cert will stiffen among teachers.

While change to the Junior Cert has received a hugely positive response from educationalists and commentators, it’s viewed with suspicion by many rank and file teachers. There are fears the new exam gives an advantage to better resourced schools and fails to prepare students for a high stakes Leaving Cert exam. Clearly, the Department of Education has still to make the case for change to the ordinary teacher.

Expect this issue to dominate the Easter teacher conferences of Asti and the TUI.

Waterford will secure a new technological university.

Combined efforts by Brendan Howlin and Phil Hogan will help deliver the new technological university for Waterford, despite the scepticism of some in the Department of Education and the Higher Education Authority.

Little evidence of real collaboration between the universities will emerge, despite their commitment to do so.

Two outstanding HEA reports this year exposed one glaring truth – the seven universities are run like proud, independent fiefdoms. They have no great appetite for pooling resources. Next year, various reports will back regional clusters, deeper collaboration and the rest, but the universities will be slow to change.

Here’s a forecast: This time next year there will still be huge duplication of courses in engineering, education and humanities.

Reform of third-level admissions will begin in earnest.

The university presidents are due to report early next year on changes to the CAO. Expect more broadly based first year university courses in science, engineering, languages and much else. There will be a move away from highly specialised combinations where students need more than 500 points.

http://www.irishtimes.com/

Foilsithe ar 18 Nollaig 2012

Next Page »