(Gaeilge) Folúntas: S.N. Cillín Liath
October 16, 2014
55% den phobal ar son ‘éigeantacht’ na Gaeilge
October 15, 2014
Make-up of the new Education Authority is criticised
October 15, 2014
There was consternation at Stormont that not all types of schools are set to be represented on the board of the new Education Authority.
MLAs consented to the accelerated passage of the Education Bill through the Assembly yesterday, as they raised questions about the new legislation.
If passed, the new laws will see Northern Ireland’s five education and library boards merged into one administrative body called the Education Authority.
The move comes after seven years of bitter disagreement over the failed Education Skills Authority (ESA).
Education Minister John O’Dowd said the new structures needed to be in place by next April or the existing five will be on uncertain legal ground.
“It’s a matter of urgency and necessity to meet a very tight timescale,” he told the Assembly, describing the six clause bill as “the minimal legislation required to form a single board”.
But Assembly yesterday queried why a number of education sectors were not to be represented on the board of the new body.
Under the proposals there will be a chairman, four Transferers (Protestant church representatives), three Trustees (Catholic church representatives), eight political members elected according to party strength in the Assembly, and four community members.
Chair of the Education Committee Michelle McIlveen (DUP) said it was “bizarre” that the voluntary grammar sector had not been given a place at the table.
She pointed out that voluntary grammar schools represented 32.9% of post primary children here. Miss McIlveen welcomed the bill generally, especially the new body for controlled sector schools, as a “chance to put right a grave injustice suffered by the controlled sector”.
Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn queried why the integrated and Irish-medium sector had not been assigned places.
“Between them, the Irish-medium and integrated represent a fair percentage and a growing percentage of the school population,” he said. “We will be putting forward measures to tinker with the membership.”
Mr O’Dowd said that he was open to persuasion on the issues, but said it shouldn’t be amended “out of existence”, describing the bill as “finely balanced”.
Works will let gaelcholáiste enrol three first-year classes
October 15, 2014
An all-Irish secondary school that turned down dozens of applications this year will enrol three first-year classes in 2015 after approval for a long-term expansion and building works.
The policy change at Gaelcholáiste Mhuire at the North Monastery last year, restricting new enrolments to just 59 students in two classes, caused controversy because of the number of applicants. It had enrolled three first-year classes each of the previous three years in response to demand, but concerns over space and accommodation prompted the trustees to limit numbers.
However, approval was received from the Department of Education last month for a project that would see its enrolment rise, from the 350 for which it was originally opened, to a maximum of 520.
The decision to revert to a three-class intake has been influenced by this approval, with discussion between management and department officials since then about the level of accommodation needs.
The revised enrolment policy says student numbers have risen from 354 to 451 since 2010, and that continuing demand for places is evidence of the excellent quality of education at the school. However, it also advises parents this high demand means it is still likely to be unable to offer places to all applicants next year.
Local Sinn Féin councillor Thomas Gould, spokesman for a campaign group set up to seek a return to the increased enrolment figures, welcomed the decision.
“Last year, the school received 112 applications for 58 places,” he said. “The increase in number of enrolment places for 2015 will reduce the number of disappointed children and families.”
Mr Gould thanked parents for fighting to bring about the change.
The school had tried to limit new entrants to two classes last year but the success of appeals to the department led to three classes being enrolled, before a firmer policy was put in place for the current school year.
Folúntas: Meánscoil San Nioclás
October 15, 2014
Folúntas: Scoil Chaitríona
October 15, 2014
Folúntas: Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh
October 15, 2014
Folúntas: Gaelscoil Chluain Meala
October 13, 2014
Folúntas: Coláiste Pobail, Rathcairn
October 13, 2014
Folúntas: Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré
October 13, 2014
