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
Maths bonus points cost me college place
August 22, 2012
As a Leaving Cert student I believe that the introduction of bonus points for higher level maths has not only affected students who wish to study in the areas of science and maths, it has manipulated the entire points system.
On receiving my CAO offer, I learned that I had been denied my first choice, Law and Irish. Although I achieved 525 points in my Leaving Cert, I was out by a mere 5 points. Having worked consistently for two years I was understandably devastated, as the course had risen by a huge 30 points. However, my situation is not unusual as university courses, be it in the areas of science or even linguistics, have risen astronomically due to the new points system.
Where students should rightfully be tested on their personal skills and talents, the system is instead based on students’ abilities to retain information and perform under severe pressure in exam situations.
Having obtained an A2 in higher level Irish I feel that this should influence my suitability for my chosen course in some way. However, as a result of a lack of mathematical ability, I, along with many others, have been deprived of a course that has very little relevance to maths or science.
While it may be too late for me, I sincerely hope that Ruairí Quinn and his wise colleagues realise that the ideological decision to award 25 bonus points to all honours maths Leaving Cert pupils was unjust and unfair to many hardworking students. This system will exclude more students than it will create jobs for.
Aoife O’Connor
Dingle
Co Kerry
www.irishexaminer.com
Naíscoil na Daróige diúltaithe ag Aire Oideachais
August 22, 2012
Nuachtlitir Choláiste Feirste
August 22, 2012
Nuachtlitir Choláiste Feirste Meitheamh 2012
Dianchúrsa i Scríobh an Ghearrscéil & an Úrscéil
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