Folúntas: Gaelscoil Chill Dara
September 3, 2014
Folúntas: Gaelscoil Chaladh an Treoigh
September 3, 2014
Ó Sé to lead march for new gaelscoil
September 3, 2014
Former All-Ireland medal winner Tomás Ó Sé is set to lead a 1,000-strong demonstration next Friday to highlight the growing frustration amongst pupils, parents, and staff over the length of time it is taking to build a new school.
The Sunday Game pundit is to head a march organised by Gaelscoil de hÍde New School Action Group in Fermoy, Co Cork, at 11.30am.
The action group is calling on the Department of Education to honour a vow made in 2011 to build a gaelscoil in the town. The department is yet to locate a definite site.
Mr Ó Sé is a teacher at the 410-pupil school and is angry that his pupils are having to put up with totally inadequate facilities.
The school was originally expected to cater for just half the number of pupils it has. Cloakrooms, halls, and former libraries have been converted into classrooms, some uncomfortably close to toilets. The exercise area is woefully inadequate and now the school must place a prefab in the playground due to a shortage of space.
“It’s a ridiculous situation, the worst I’ve ever seen, and the children are being deprived,” said Mr Ó Sé. “Physical education is such an important part of a child’s development and it’s awful that we as teachers have to tell the children they can’t even run during the morning break. Exercise is crucial for children.
“The ‘healthy body, healthy mind’ concept is completely accurate. I grew up in a country school and we could blow off steam at break and play games to our hearts’ content. The children here can’t and it’s unacceptable. It’s wrong and a new school is long overdue.”
Local GPs have also expressed concern about the situation.
Vivienne Dempsey, chairwoman of the action group, said the aim of the protest is to send a clear signal to Jan O’Sullivan, the education minister, that the people of Fermoy support their call.
The march will begin outside the school at MacCurtain St and continue down to Patrick St. It will then double back to Pearse Square where principal Seán McGearailt and Mr Ó Sé will address the crowd.
Irish Examiner
Folúntas: Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin
September 2, 2014
Folúntas: Scoil Santain
September 2, 2014
Folúntas: Scoil Chearbhaill Uí Dhálaigh
September 2, 2014
Work underway on the new school building for Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua
September 1, 2014
Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua are very excited to see the building work underway on their brand new school, have a look at their photos on Facebook. Places are available in the school for 2014 and 2015, visit their website for more details: www.gaelscoilshliabhrua.ie.
Divestment ‘not progressing as quickly as hoped’
September 1, 2014
The Minister for Education has accepted that plans to divest primary schools from the Catholic Church to other patrons are not progressing as quickly as hoped.
Today will see only the second change of patronage under the scheme when Newtownwhite National School outside Ballina, Co Mayo, transfers from the Church of Ireland to Educate Together in a ceremony due to be attended by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
According to a report in today’s Irish Times, the process is being hindered by unexpected legal complications, including an absence of paperwork between the sState and religious authorities over title to land.
Paul Rowe of Educate Together: says there have been unexpected hold-ups due to “real estate” problems, including that many schools earmarked for transfer were owned by religious trusts or foundationsLack of paperwork hindering school divestment programme
Breda O’Brien of the Iona Institute said the report appeared to strike the right balance between making denominational schools more genuinely inclusive while also respecting the ethos and identity of those schools.
Speaking in Limerick this morning, Jan O’Sullivan stressed divestment can only be achieved through a process of consultation.
“Clearly, there are ownership rights and property rights and so on, that are involved but I would like to move it as quickly as possible,” she said.
“I think there are 28 parts of the country where there has already been some surveys carried out and where there is an expressed view that parents want other options. I want to see those [views] developed,” she added.
The Minister insisted divestment was not just a matter of paperwork.
“It’s around actually working out an agreement whereby a school that currently has ownership or patronage of a school is willing to engage in terms of changing, so it is a process of consultation and collaboration and I would certainly hope to drive it.”
Cyber bullying
The Minister for Education also said today that her Department is engaged in discussions with education partners to see how they can “actively address” the scourge of cyber bullying.
Her remarks follows calls from school principals for a dedicated classroom module on cyber bullying to be introduced to tackle growing concerns at junior and senior levels .
“It is something that concerns me greatly. Children are very vulnerable to cyber bullying they obviously have access to all technology now and are very engaged and it’s a very insidious form of bullying. It’s much easier to deal with physical bullying in a school situation but we certainly need to address it.”
Irish Times
Mo chéad lá ar scoil 2014 – Gaelscoil an Chuilinn
September 1, 2014
Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ Luimneach – Éacht agus buaicphointe i Stair na Scoile
September 1, 2014
