Picnic Mhór an tSamhraidh – Comhluadar
April 25, 2013
Traenáil “Tús Áite do Leanaí”
April 25, 2013
Principals’ group calls for CAO system for primary schools
April 24, 2013
A Central Applications Office-style process for primary school places could be used to regulate enrolment practice, the professional body for primary school leaders has said.
In a submission to the Department of Education the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) called for a “clearly defined, legally robust national enrolment policy, with a standardised basis for admission to all schools”.
The call comes as Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn prepares to publish draft legisl at i on aimed at regulating school enrolment policies.
Rank schools
The group has called for a web-based system that would allow parents to rank schools in order of preference in a method similar to the CAO application process for college, with clusters of schools defining their catchment areas and co-operating on shared enrolment practice.
The body has called for one annual date for applications by parents and another for a response from schools.
Seán Cottrell of the IPPN said some schools give preference to children based on historical family links, academic or sporting achievements, how early they joined the queue, or whether their parents could afford the advance deposit.
Waiting lists
He said that any new system should prohibit multi-annual waiting lists, booking deposits and aptitude screenings.
“Schools are funded based on the number of children enrolled. IPPN believes that extra weighted capitation values should be applied to Traveller children, new Irish children, children from designated disadvantaged areas, and children with special education needs under the new national enrolment policy.”
Eileen Flynn of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association has rejected the proposal, saying there was a risk of the system becoming “overly-bureaucratic”.
“It is important that the system does not become overly-bureaucratic in trying to resolve an issue for a relatively small number of schools.”
www.irishtimes.com
Foilsithe ar 24 Aibreán 2013
The Irish Times – Louise Holden
Deiseanna Fostaíochta san AE
April 24, 2013
BEIDH cúrsaí fostaíochta san Aontas Eorpach á bplé ag painéal d’ard aoichainteoirí i mBaile Átha Cliath ar an Aoine, 26 Aibreán.
I measc na gcainteoirí ar an lá, beidh Lucinda Creighton TD; Colmcille Ó Monacháin, Ceann Aonad na Gaeilge, An Coimisiún Eorpach; Seán Hade, Ceann Aonad na Gaeilge; Séamus Howard, Dlí-theangeolaí le Comhairle an Aontais Eorpaigh agus Dáithí Mac Cárthaigh BL, Comhordaitheoir Dlí agus Gaeilge.
Cuirfear tús leis an seimineár ag 4.00pm sa léachtlann thuas staighre in Óstaí an Rí, Sráid Henrietta, agus leanfaidh an plé ar dheiseanna fostaíochta go dtí 6.00pm.
www.foinse.ie
Foilsithe ar 24 Aibreán 2013
Foinse – Nuacht an hEarnála le Gaelport.com
Children could face CAO-style admission to schools
April 24, 2013
Primary principals want radical shake-up of entry procedures
PARENTS of up to 120,000 children a year would have to fill out CAO-style forms to secure primary and secondlevel school places under a plan put forward by principals.
In a dramatic shake-up proposed for the schools admission system, parents would rank their school choices in a centralised application system – similar to the one used for college entry.
Primary principals want the CAOstyle scheme at both primary and second-level, with parents listing schools in a particular catchment area in order of preference.
Under the proposal, where a particular school could not cope with the demand, places would be allocated on the basis of a lottery.
The scheme, proposed by the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN), would be operated by a centralised agency. The IPPN’s proposal is a response to moves by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn to bring in a law to shake up school enrolment rules.
About 80pc of schools can accommodate all applicants but the rest apply selective admissions policies, which are now being targeted by the minister.
Mr Quinn plans to ban or restrict certain practices, such as giving preference to children based on the fact their mother, father, or another relative was a past pupil.
Mr Quinn wants to end the days of some schools “cherry-picking” pupils on the basis of brains or breeding, while others take more than their fair share of children with special educational needs.
The IPPN supports Mr Quinn’s plan and, as an additional measure, suggested the CAO-style common enrolment application form, with clusters of schools in defined catchment areas co-operating on shared enrolment practices. IPPN director Sean Cottrell said the school enrolment policy system, mainly at second level, was uneven.
He said a fairer and more transparent enrolment process would relieve stress on many parents.
Mr Cottrell said the system they were proposing would be web- based, with one annual date for applications by parents and another for a response from schools.
“Then, parents could get their first, second or third choice, depending on supply and demand factors,” he said.
Reflecting
The primary principals’ organisation is now seeking a meeting with the Department of Education to discuss its plan.
The department did not comment on the IPPN proposal, but said Mr Quinn would be reflecting carefully on the views expressed in the consultation process that will follow the publication of his draft legislation.
The IPPN proposal drew a mixed reaction elsewhere in education circles. Ferdia Kelly of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB) representing secondary schools, traditionally run by the religious, said such a system could be too complicated.
He pointed out that only 20pc of schools were oversubscribed. Mr Kelly said that what they favoured was a common enrolment timeline, where all schools in an area shared the same enrolment date, which would put the onus on parents to make a firm commitment.
However, Michael Moriarty, general secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA), which has schools both in the second-level and primary sector, said he supported a system based on schools working together in clusters, with parents listing their preferences.
Other changes planned by the minister include a ban on first-come, first served admissions policies because they discriminate against people who have recently moved to an area.
He also proposes to ban “booking deposits” and to put restrictions on a requirement for children and their parents to attend compulsory open days or be interviewed.
www.independent.ie
Foilsithe ar 24 Aibreán 2013
Irish Independent – Katherine Donnelly
Department of Education and Skills revokes Irish language services
April 23, 2013
A “giant leap backwards” is how the umbrella body for the Irish language voluntary sector, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge has described the new language scheme which came into effect yesterday at the Department of Education and Skills.
The language schemes agreed with public bodies are an integral part of the Official Languages Act 2003. Under Article 11 of that Act, public bodies agree language schemes with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht which detail the services which the public body propose to provide.
Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge has expressed concern over the lack of progression in ratifying new schemes under the current system, which An Chomhdháil believes is a demonstration of a reluctance from the state to provide Irish language services.
The first language scheme came into effect in The Department of Education and Skills in 2005. This three year scheme detailed the services which would be available from the Department to the public through Irish. Having expired in 2008, there was a five year wait before the second scheme would be ratified with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. “Not only does the second scheme not build on commitments of the first scheme, but many of the previous commitments have now been revoked,” said Kevin De Barra, Director of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge.
Press Releases
Prior to 2005, the Department of Education and Skills generally issued pressreleases only in English. With the ratification of the first language scheme, the Department committed to issuing pressreleases bilingually in both Irish and English when announcing new schemes or policy changes. The new scheme effected yesterday stipulates that Irish language press releases might not be issued simultaneously with their English versions from now on. De Barra contends that “due to the time sensitive nature of pressreleases it makes no sense to issue an Irish version a week after the English version. While this might tick a box for the Department, this approach would ultimately be a waste of resources as it would provide little benefit to the public”.
Telephone Services
In 2005, the Department of Education and Skills set out in their first scheme to provide a dedicated telephone number to deal with queries from the public through Irish. The second scheme rescinds this commitment by stating that the on-going provision of this service is dependent on the availability of staff who can provide the service in Irish. In practical terms, adding such a caveat will now mean that telephone services are being provided in a conditional or limited fashion, and therefore it will not be clear to the public what service they are entitled to receive from the Department through Irish.
In relation to services to teachers the new scheme states that a one-to-one telephone service through Irish is and will continue to be available from the Teacher Education Section, ‘subject to relevant personnel being available’.
Administrative Services
Under the first language scheme, a one-to-one administration service was provided through Irish by certain units within the Department of Education and Skills, namely the Teacher Education Section and the Statistics Unit. While the commitments regarding Irish language services provided by the Teacher Education Section are upheld in the second scheme, albeit under a new title, there is no mention of the continuance of Irish language services provided by the Statistics Unit throughout the first scheme.
Recruitment
In their second language scheme, The Department of Education and Skills states that through the Public Appointments Service inspectors will be appointed at the recruitment grade level to continue and enhance the delivery of service through Irish. Civil servants currently within the Department of Education and Skills or those transferring from other departments will be awarded extra marks in internal promotion competitions within the Department based on a competency in Irish. While competency in Irish will therefore remain a desirable criterion for posts, it will not be a requirement.
The second language scheme refers to a survey carried out among the current administration team within the Department of Education and Skills in which less than 1.5% claimed to be competent in Irish.
Escape Clause
The Department’s second language scheme places a strong emphasis on current financial restrictions and challenges regarding human resources within the civil service. Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge believes the Department of Education and Skills is seeking to use the current economic climate as an escape clause regarding the commitments given in the first language scheme which will prove extremely detrimental to Irish language services provided by the State should other public bodies follow suit.
Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge will be raising this issue with the Department of Education and Skills and also with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the body who ratified this language scheme.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Gaeilge an tSamhraidh 2013 i gCeatharlach
April 23, 2013
Minister Quinn invites applications for patronage of new primary schools in 2014
April 22, 2013
An óige curtha i dtreo na litríochta in Ollscoil Uladh
April 22, 2013
Cigire Nuatheangacha – Gaeilge & Fraincis/Spáinnis
April 22, 2013
