90% for Coláiste Feirste’s GCSE pupils
August 24, 2012
Coláiste Feirste, Belfast’s fast-growing Irish-medium College, have bucked the trend of declining exam results elsewhere. This year an incredible 90% of Year 12 pupils achieved the benchmark 5 or more GCSEs with a significant rise in the number of students achieving A* and A grades in all subjects. No pupil gained less than 4 good grades at GCSE and many achieved 10 top grades. The vast majority of these pupils will be returning to 6th Form next week to continue their Irish-medium education for the next two years.
Year Head Pádraig Mac Cathail said, “On behalf of the Key Stage 4 team I would like to congratulate the students and their parents on an excellent set of results. It has been a pleasure to work with these young Gaels over the last two years, and I can say with confidence that not only have they been highly motivated students but they have developed into mature and rounded young adults. This is a great day for our school community.”
There were numerous individual successes. Déaglán Mac Conmhaoil and Nuala Meascaigh, for example, achieved 10 straight A* and A grades. Many of the departments in the school boasted 100% pass-rates including French, Drama, Motor Vehicle Studies, Health and Social Care, Science and Geography while the Maths Department doubled the number of students who achieved A*-C grades in GCSE Maths.
School Principal, Micheál Mac Giolla Ghunna congratulated the students, staff and parents. “These results follow on the tremendous A-level results last week. Today’s success is the culmination of lots of hard work over the last 5 years. I would like to pay tribute to our feeder primary schools, the bunscoileanna, who laid robust foundations for our staff to build on. Over the last number of years Coláiste Feirste has implemented an Improvement Plan that strives to ensure that each and every student achieves their full potential and with the dedication and leadership of the Key Stage 4 teachers, it has been a resounding success. We have nurtured another generation of talented and highly educated young Gaels not only for the Irish language community but for this city.
“Coláiste Feirste has come of age and the decision of the Department of Education to invest £11.9 million in our success story has been proven right. With our state of the art new building and sports facilities we look forward to more success next year and in the future.”
2013 – 2014 competition for the Fulbright Awards
August 24, 2012
The Fulbright Commission in Ireland will officially open to applicants on Friday, the 24th of August 2012. The 2013 – 2014 competition for the Fulbright Awards include a monetary grant for post-graduate students, scholars, and professionals to travel to the US to lecture, research, and study for a maximum period of one year. Further information about the application process is available on www.fulbright.ie.
All applications must be received by 3:00 p.m. in hard copy and online on 14th November 2012.
The following three types of awards are on offer:
- Fulbright Student Awards: For up to one academic year for postgraduate study or research in the United States in any discipline, including the arts. Grants are a maximum of $20,000. Applicants may stay to complete their academic program if it is longer than one year.
- Fulbright Scholar and Professional Awards: Grants available for up to €35,000 (Irish Language) and $20,000 (General Awards) for academics and professionals with more than five years’ experience to research and/or lecture in the US, lasting between and three and twelve months.
- Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistantship (FLTA) Awards: Ten-month Awards for Irish language teachers to refine their teaching skills in the US by teaching at a US college and taking classes at a post-graduate level. Grants are available for approximately €20,000.
There are a number of sponsored awards for students and scholars in specific disciplines, including:
- Fulbright-Environmental Protection Agency Award in Water, Climate Change, and Sustainable Environment (Student and Scholar)
- Fulbright-Marine Institute Award on Any Marine Science/Business Topic (Student and Scholar)
- Fulbright-Enterprise Ireland Award in Innovation (Student Only)
- Fulbright-Teagasc Award in Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (Student Only)
- Fulbright-University of Notre Dame LL.M. in International Human Rights Law (50% tuition waiver) (Student Only)
Speaking at the launch, Ms. Una Halligan, Chairperson of the Fulbright Commission in Ireland, said,
“Year after year, the Fulbright Awards attract Ireland’s top researchers, professionals, and graduates. I have no doubt that this year will be the same. The Irish Fulbright Awards offer winners the opportunity to study, research, and build relationships in the United States. The Fulbrighters gain invaluable experience that they can share upon their return to Ireland that will set them apart in their fields. I would encourage any interested applicants to visit our website for more information.”
The Fulbright Awards are presented on an annual basis to Irish students, scholars, and professionals to undertake postgraduate study and research at higher education, cultural, and related institutions in the United States. In 2012 there was a record-breaking 37 Irish Awardees.
Applications are encouraged in all disciplines.
For further information, please contact:
Joanne A. Davidson
Communications and Information Officer, Fulbright Commission Ireland
joanne.davidson@fulbright.ie
01.660.7670 / 087.258.1417
Applications open for grants to study, teach and research in US
August 24, 2012
Applications open tomorrow for awards for postgraduate students, scholars and professionals from the Fulbright Commission in Ireland.
The financial awards support those seeking to study, lecture or do research in the US in the coming year. Stays are for a maximum of a year and there are three types of awards on offer.
The Fulbright student awards are for postgraduate studies, with a grant of up to $20,000 (about €16,000).
The Fulbright scholar and professional awards enable academics and professionals to research or lecture in the US. These too are worth about €16,000 but up to €35,000 if in the Irish language.
There is also a Fulbright foreign language teaching assistantship award, a 10-month grant to enable Irish language teachers to develop their skills by teaching at a US college. Grants are about €20,000.
The Fulbright awards are presented on an annual basis. All applications must be received both in hard copy and online by November 14th.
Una Halligan, chairwoman of the Fulbright Commission in Ireland, said: “The Irish Fulbright awards offer winners the opportunity to study, research, and build relationships in the United States. The Fulbrighters gain invaluable experience that they can share upon their return to Ireland that will set them apart in their fields.”
www.irishtimes.com
MSc i nGnó agus i dTeicneolaíocht an Eolais
August 24, 2012
Teaching courses may widen entry requirements
August 24, 2012
Primary teaching courses could revert to using interviews or aptitude tests as well as Leaving Certificate results to identify suitable students, under changes being considered by the profession.
There are already proposals to increase the standards needed in Irish, English and maths to be selected for the bachelor of education (BEd) programmes.
But as the inclusion of additional assessments to choose college entrants comes under consideration by third-level bosses, similar plans are already being examined for entry to teacher-training courses.
The Irish Examiner highlighted this week how the better performance of girls and their greater likelihood to study English and Irish at higher level could push the profession further beyond the reach of men.
However, the Teaching Council, which made the proposals last year, said consultations on those suggested changes have yet to begin.
The consultation period will start later this year, and there would be enough lead-in time for any changes to entry requirements to allow students make appropriate choices.
But as well as minimum Leaving Certificate grades, another Teaching Council policy document on teacher-training suggests a review of entry requirements span more than subject levels.
“Selection procedures for initial teacher education should assess, in so far as possible, the broad range of factors which may impact on the applicant’s suitability for entry to the profession,” it says.
It suggests a review of entry requirements and selection procedures, to consider the use of:
- Aptitude tests;
- Structured interviews;
- Significance of previous relevant experience;
- Subject quotas;
- Standard of academic achievement.
The proposals will follow the extension from next year of the BEd from a three to a four-year programme, in line with increased teaching qualification requirements under Education Minister Ruairi Quinn’s literacy and numeracy strategy.
A Teaching Council spokesperson said it will be for the minister to set any new entry requirements, based on consultation and advice from the council.
The developments are being considered as third level chiefs also look at widening selection methods for degrees and other courses, to include measurements other than Leaving Certificate performance. The Irish Universities Association is to report by the end of the year on its plans and the timescale for changes, which it is hoped could take effect in 2015.
In a report to Mr Quinn this week they recommended more general entry courses instead of students picking specialist degrees before starting college, and the option of widening bonus points for subjects other than maths.
www.irishexaminer.com
North’s GCSE top grade percentage rises again
August 24, 2012
NORTHERN IRELAND students have registered another strong performance in the GCSE exams, with the percentage of top grades up once again.
Results out yesterday showed that 8.9 per cent of entries in the North achieved the top A* grade, compared with 8.5 per cent in 2011. There was also a small increase in the A*-C bracket, with 75.6 per cent of entries achieving these grades – up 0.8 per cent on last year.
About 32,000 pupils sat GCSEs in Northern Ireland this year. Girls are still outperforming boys when it comes to results – at the A* level by 3.8%, at A*-A by 9.4 per cent and at A*-C by 7.3 per cent.
The results were published by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ).
This year saw strong Northern Ireland performances in the sciences, maths and technology. The percentage of entries achieving A*-C in chemistry was 93.6 per cent (93.3 per cent in 2011), in physics 93.7 per cent (92.6 per cent in 2011), and in biology 90 per cent (91.4 per cent in 2011).
Entries in biology and chemistry remained steady. Physics saw a fall of 2.8 per cent in entries from 2,966 in 2011 to 2,884 in 2012.
In mathematics and design and technology, there were also rises in the percentage of entries gaining top grades.
In mathematics 62.9 per cent of entries achieved grades A*- C (60.9per cent in 2011). In design and technology, performance at A*-C rose to 73.9 per cent (from 71.3 per cent in 2011).
The JCQ noted a fall in modern languages entries. After gains last year, 2012 saw a drop in entries for most modern language subjects. French, Irish and Spanish all saw a fall in entry figures. In contrast, entries for German rose 6.2 per cent to 1,138. The most popular language remained French, with 6,402 entries. – (PA)
www.irishtimes.com
The sum of Irish and maths
August 23, 2012
Sir, –
I did not have to wait long to see the customary letter questioning the value and usefulness of Irish in the Leaving Certificate. For Andrew Doyle Clifden’s (August 21st) benefit, trigonometry is triantánacht in Irish, which roughly translates to “the study of triangles”.
Most mathematical terms in Irish are similar to their English language counterparts, as they all have their origins in Greek. Calculus is calculas in Irish. I would be more concerned that students would understand the concepts rather than the terms.
In certain cases, Irish language terms are self-explanatory, acting as aides-mémoires to students and deepening their understanding of certain concepts. Hypotenuse is “taobhagán” which translates as “a support/side”. To understand the English term one needs to appreciate the Greek prefix “hypo” and and the Greek verb “teinein” (to stretch) – granted a student studying French may make the link with the verb “tenir”, and thus make the connection that the hypo-tenuse is the “very holding/supporting” side of the triangle, or put simply, the long side. Taobhagán is a much simpler term and is self-explanatory to an Irish speaker. There is very little in the term “isosceles” that a student would understand. However, in Irish, the term “triantán comhchosach” is self-explanatory – “an equal legged triangle”.
Students who have achieved a high grade in higher-level mathematics through Irish in their Leaving Certificate and who wish to continue to study mathematics at third level will have to do so in English as there is no third-level course in mathematics through Irish. I am sure over the four years in university, these able students will pick up the few terms required to impress any future employer.
Students who studied mathematics through Irish will have the terms both in Irish and English, whereas the candidate who studied mathematics in English may not have the Irish terms. That both will be excellent mathematicians is beyond doubt.
Yours, etc,
Colm Ó hAnluain,
Avenue Belle Vue, Waterloo, Belgium.
www.irishtimes.com
Nursery proposal turned down
August 23, 2012
A development proposal for a new full-time nursery unit at Gaelscoil na Daróige in Derry has been turned down.
Education Minister, John O’Dowd says the decision to turn down the proposal was carefully considered.
“The challenge I face is not simply to create more pre-school places, but rather to ensure pre-school provision reflects the needs of the local area.
“Each development proposal must be carefully considered on the basis of all the information pertinent to the individual case. In this particular case, I am satisfied that there is already sufficient Irish- medium pre-school provision in the area,” he says.
www.derryjournal.com
An rás mallaithe
August 23, 2012
Raidió yí-há
August 22, 2012
