Fee-paying pupils most likely to go to university
May 7, 2013
Department figures show half of early school leavers stay in education Only 25% of those in schools designated disadvantaged go on to higher education
Two-thirds of students who attend fee-paying secondary schools go on to higher level education, compared to about 40 per cent of students from other school types, new figures from the Department of Education have shown. The figures are based on students who completed post-primary school in 2010. The new data, compiled using detailed analysi s of r ecords held by the department , also reveal that only one quarter of students attending schools that are designated disadvantaged (Deis) went on to higher education in 2010, compared to half of all students from non-Deis schools. More than 57 per cent of pupils attending all-Irish schools enrolled in higher education courses that year.
A separate report on early school leavers has shown that of the 7,713 students who dropped out of school early in 2010, more than half have gone on to further education or training or continued in second-level education programmes such as post-Leaving Certificate courses. A further 14 per cent of early school leavers were enrolled in education or training outside of the State. Some 6 per cent had joined the workforce, while 6.6 per cent had claimed social welfare. The number of students leaving school before completion accounted for 2.5 per cent of the overall cohort in 2010, down from 3.7 per cent in 2002 . It is notable that more girls dropped out of school early than boys in 2010 – 4,023 compared to 3,690 – a trend reflected in data dating back to 2003.This finding runs counter to claims that boys are at higher risk of dropping out before the Leaving Cert.
Also, girls tended to leave post-primary schooling earlier than boys. A quarter (25 per cent) of female early school leavers left after year three of Junior Certificate/ JCSP compared to 21 per cent of boys. Overall, half of all students enrolled in the final year of senior cycle in a State-supported post-primary school in 2010 went directly to higher education. A further 28 per cent progressed to further education, training or continued second-level education. Ten percent took up employment, while 7 per cent made social welfare claims. An estimated 4 per cent enrolled in colleges abroad, with the majority talking up higher education programmes in the UK and Northern Ireland.
This report, entitled School Completers – What Next?, and its companion report Early School Leavers – What Next?, are the first in a series of annual reports by the Department of Education that will track school leavers a year after they leave school.
www.irishtimes.com
Widening gap in two-tier school system is revealed
May 7, 2013
Reports show who is going to college and who drops out PUPILS in fee-charging schools and those who receive an all-Irish education are most likely to go straight to college from school.
At the other extreme, research reveals that pupils attending schools in disadvantaged areas are most likely to drop out and if they do the Leaving Cert are least likely to go straight to a third-level institution.
Worries
A key finding – that girls are more likely than boys to leave school early – contradicts the long-held view that this was a predominantly male problem. The reports confirm much of what is already known about how the system favours some students more than others – but the level of dropout by girls will trigger fresh worries about whether the education system is adequately meeting their needs. Attempts to tackle early school leaving has traditionally focused on boys. For the first time, the Department of Education has now tracked the progress of individual school-leavers from a single year, including both those who had done the Leaving Cert and those who dropped out. The research was carried out on pupils who attended school in the 2009/2010 year, but were not enrolled the following year. The department used PPS numbers to track the pupils and, in a ground-breaking exercise, cross-checked data in a range of government departments and agencies to establish where the school-leavers were a year later.
One study, ‘School Completers – What’s Next’ looked at what happened to the 54,824 Leaving Cert candidates in 2009/2010. The other study, ‘Early School-Leavers – What’s Next’ looked at the destination of the 7,713 pupils (out of a total second-level enrolment that year of 257,060) who left school in 2009/2010 at any point before sixth year Among the key findings were that 50pc of those who completed their Leaving Cert went straight into higher education. An additional 28pc went on to further education, such as a Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) course; training, such as a FAS course; or repeated the Leaving Cert. A total of 10pc of the class of 2009/2010 took up employment; 7pc were claiming social welfare; and 5pc were ‘other’, such as emigration. A closer analysis of the average 50pc who went straight to college shows a wide variation in progression rates, depending on school sector: Fee-charging schools (66pc). All-Irish schools (57pc). Non-fee-charging secondary schools, generally those run or previously run by the religious (47pc). Comprehensive schools (42pc). Community schools (38pc). Vocational sector schools (34pc). Schools in designated disadvantaged areas (24pc).
Overall, early school leaving is much less of a problem than it was, with 11,498 dropping out of school in 2001/2002. The biggest dropout rate, 3.9pc, was in schools in designated disadvantaged areas, known as DEIS – double the rate of a non-DEIS school and four times that in an all-Irish school. Although followed closely by 3.8pc in fee-paying schools, many of these pupils may have gone on to a grind school. The research shows that more females consistently exit the second-level system earlier than males. This is true both in absolute numbers and in the percentage of the entire male and female school populations. About 55pc of early schoolleavers went on to further education – such as a PLC course, or FAS training – or continued their second-level education in a private institution such as a grind school, as 22pc of them did. Another 14pc were enrolled in further education or training outside the State, while about 6pc were working and 7pc were claiming social welfare.
Emigration
The remaining 17pc fell into the ‘other’ category, which includes emigration. Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said the reports “would fill data gaps and enhance the information used by the department to plan for the future education needs of our school-leavers”. Data was matched with agencies such as the Revenue Commissioners, the Higher Education Authority’s Student Record System, FAS, the Department of Social Protection and the Further Education and Training Awards Council.
www.independent.ie
Le Chéile Trí Chultúr – athmhuintearas pobail i measc óige an tuaiscirt
May 7, 2013
COGG to host conference on the needs of the Irish Language in education
May 7, 2013
An Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) is organising a conference which will discuss the needs of the Irish language in education on Thursday, 23 May 2013.
This conference aims to bring together all the agencies involved in primary and post-primary education with a view to marking COGG’s achievements to date and identify the challenges ahead and the supports necessary for Irish medium education and the teaching of Irish.
Guest speakers will include Sean Ó Foghlú, Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills; Seosamh Mac Donnacha, NUIG; Dr Conchúr Ó Giollagáin, NUIG; Dr. Brian Ó Curnáin, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies; Tamás Péterváry, NUIG; Prof. Alison Henry, University of Ulster and Dr Sarah Fitzpatrick, NCCA.
The conference will take place in The Bewley’s Hotel, Leopardstown from 9.30am to 4pm. A simultaneous translation service will be available as the event will be bilingual. To register contact eolas@cogg.ie before 15 May 2013.
Over 75 per cent of School Leavers go on to Higher and Further Education and Training
May 7, 2013
New research shows that over 50 per cent of students who were enrolled in the final year of Senior Cycle in a Department of Education & Skills-supported post-primary schools in 2010 went directly to higher education. A further 28 per cent progressed to further education, training or continued second-level education. Some 10 per cent took up employment while 7 per cent had Social Welfare claims.
In another new study, DES has also tracked early leavers, who left DES-supported post-primary schools between the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 academic years. This research, which forms part of a new data series, found that 55 per cent of these early leavers went on to further education or training or continued in second-level education in Ireland such as Post-Leaving Cert (PLC) courses. A further 14 per cent were enrolled in education or training outside of the State and amongst the early leavers, 6.6 per cent had Social Welfare claims while another 6 per cent had joined the workforce during 2010.
Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., welcomed the new data series. “This new research will provide a baseline for tracking school leavers in the years ahead and will fill current data gaps. It will enhance the information used by the Department to plan for the future education needs of our school leavers.”
Data showing where school leavers went after completing the Leaving Certificate in 2010 is contained in School Completers – What’s Next? It found that of the 54,824 school leavers that year, 44per cent went on to study for a Higher Education course in a HEA funded Institution. Another 20 per cent enrolled in PLC courses and 5 per cent repeated the Leaving Certificate. An estimated 4 per cent enrolled in colleges abroad, predominantly in the UK, including Northern Ireland, just over 2 per cent were estimated to have enrolled in a non-HEA funded Institution.
The research shows that 66 per cent of students who attended fee-charging schools progressed directly to higher education compared to 47 per cent from the non-fee charging secondary sector. Some 42 per cent of students from comprehensive schools, 38 per cent from community schools and 34 per from the vocational sector progressed directly to higher education. In terms of students attending DEIS schools, some 24 per cent went onto higher education compared to 49 per cent overall from non-DEIS status schools. Over 57 per cent of pupils attending all-Irish schools also enrolled in higher education courses.
The Early Leavers – What Next? report focussed on students who left DES aided post-primary schools before enrolment in the final year of Senior Cycle and were last enrolled in the academic year 2009/2010. It shows that 57 per cent of the 7,713 early school leavers left after the Junior Certificate cycle or enrolment in Transition Year. Some 55 per cent of Early Leavers went on to further education or training or continued second-level education in Ireland. A further 13.9 per cent were enrolled in education or training outside of the State. Of those Early Leavers who did not continue in the education sector, 6.6 per cent were seen to have social welfare activity at the end of December 2010. Of the remainder, 6.1 per cent found employment during 2010.
Female early school leavers left at an earlier stage than their male classmates with over 20 per cent leaving after the first or second year of the Junior Certificate or JCSP cycle compared to less than 20 per cent of males. Another 25 per cent of females left after year three of Junior Certificate/JCSP compared to 21 per cent of males.
To access the reports please click on links below
http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/School-Completers-–-What-Next-.pdf
http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Early-Leavers-–-What-Next-.pdf
These two reports are the first in a series of reports by the Department of Education and Skills (DES) that track school leavers a year after they leave school. This evidence-based research has been compiled using the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Student Record System, the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) awards database (now the Quality and Qualifications Ireland), the FÁS dataset, the Central Records System of the Department of Social Protection and P35 files (employer end-of-year returns) from the Revenue.
www.education.ie
Irish-medium Units – GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. Policy
May 3, 2013
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.’s mission is to promote Irish-medium education and to support communities wishing to develop Irish-medium education in their area. It has been proven internationally that the most effective method of language acquisition for school students in a second language is to immerse them in that language during the school day (the immersion system). To do this, students must be free of the influence of the major language during these periods of immersion. The best way to facilitate this is to provide a gaelscoil or gaelcholáiste, in which all aspects of school life can be catered for through Irish.
It is GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.’s policy to establish independent post-primary schools, to allow for continuity in Irish-medium education for pupils of gaelscoileanna and to allow students from other schools access to immersion education at post-primary level. In GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.’s experience it is much more difficult to establish an Irish-medium post-primary school than it is to establish an Irish-medium primary school. Therefore, Irish-medium Units are sometimes established in English-medium schools. This is due to local circumstances, usually related to the geography and population of the area.
However, there are difficulties and challenges associated with immersion education in Irish-medium Units that are greater than those faced by an independent gaelcholáiste. To overcome some of these challenges, Irish-medium Units need basic supports in order to provide effective Irish-medium education for those who to trust in that system. The document below sets out GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.’s policy on the appropriate structure for Irish-medium Units at post-primary level. This policy has been developed in consultation with established Irish-medium Units and the organisation’s Board of Directors. If you would like further information on Irish-medium Units, please contact our office;oifig@gaelscoileanna.ie or 01 8535195.
Gaelscoileanna Teo. Policy on Irish-medium Units
School managers tell Quinn to drop new pupil enrolment laws
May 3, 2013
SECONDARY school managers say there is no need for a law to back up proposed changes in enrolment policies.
They are unhappy with some of the proposed changes and insist that they do not need to be supported by legislation.
The Joint Managerial Body (JMB), representing management in over half of secondlevel schools, is responding to moves by Education Minister
Ruairi Quinn, who will bring draft legislation on the issue to Cabinet within weeks.
Mr Quinn will set out a range of practices that schools will not be able to engage in when enrolling pupils.
One proposal to which the JMB is opposed is Mr Quinn’s intention to curb the practice in many schools of giving preference to the children of past pupils.
Advantage
While the new rules are expected to allow schools give priority to brothers or sisters of an existing pupil, siblings of past pupils will not enjoy the same advantage.
A ban on booking deposits, curtailment of compulsory open days and interviews of children and parents and an end to the use of first-come, first-served as a basis for admissions, are also envisaged.
Mr Quinn, who says the overhaul is designed to introduce more fairness and transparency, says he needs the backing of legislation so the changes can be enforced.
The legislation would allow the minister to impose sanctions in the event of a breach.
About 80pc of schools can accommodate all applications, but the changes are designed for the 20pc of schools that are oversubscribed.
Addressing Mr Quinn at his association’s annual conference yesterday, JMB president Fr Paul Connell said those 20pc attempted to enrol pupils in as fair, equitable and inclusive a manner as possible.
He said that included a commitment to the “family unit”, a reference to the practice of giving priority to applicants with family links to the school.
Fr Connell said legislation was unnecessary, and where there was perceived inequity or difficulty it was open to the Department of Education to approach a school directly.
www.independent.ie
Over 4,600 students to get new classrooms under next phase of public private partnership school building plan
May 3, 2013
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., today announced details of the schools that are to be delivered in Bundle 5 of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) school building programme.
An existing primary school, St Philomena’s National School in Bray, Co. Wicklow and three post- primary schools, Eureka Secondary School in Kells, Co. Meath, Coláiste Raithín in Bray, Co. Wicklow, and Loreto College in Wexford, will get new school buildings under this new bundle.
A VEC college in Carlow town currently providing Post-Leaving Certificate courses and mainstream second-level education will be replaced with two new institutions. The joint campus will comprise a post-primary school and a further education college, each catering for 1,000 students.
The projects, due to be completed by the end of 2016, will see some 4,650 students benefit from state of the art classrooms and facilities. Local communities will also benefit, as many schools make their grounds and buildings available for a range of community activities.
It is expected that approximately 750 jobs in construction will be created.
Minister Quinn said, “These school building projects which will give an important boost to employment in the construction industry and have knock-on benefits to the local communities.
“The PPP model, through which the private sector bears the initial cost of building projects, strengthens our capacity to deliver much needed school places at a time of financial difficulty.
“I am confident that these developments will serve students and communities for many years to come.”
Part of the Government’s Economic Stimulus Package announced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin T.D., in July 2012, Bundle 5 has a total indicative value of €50-€60 million.
www.education.ie
Speisialtóir Tionscadail
May 3, 2013
Post mar Speisialtóir Tionscadail
May 2, 2013
Speisialtóir Tionscadail
Cuireann Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta fáilte roimh iarratais ó iarrathóirí a bhfuil taithí acu chun tuarascáil mhionsonraithe a ullmhú ina ndéanfar measúnú straitéiseach ar riachtanais Earnáil na Gaelscolaíochta ar bhonn réigiúnach, ar an leibhéal bunscoile agus iar-bhunscoile araon.
Tuarastal: £52k pro rata agus costais atá bainteach leis
Treimhse Fostaíochta: 25 lá
Critéir Riachtanach: Cáilíocht tríú leibhéal i réimse an oideachais, na pleanála nó na bainistíochta; Taithí 3 bliana i gcáil bhainistithe tionscadail; Taithí chúlra 2 bhliain sa phleanáil lóistíochta;
Critéir Inmhianaithe: Fios ar earnáil na Gaelscolaíochta; Tuiscint mhaith ar earnáil na Gaelscolaíochta.
Is é an dáta druidim d’iarratais agus moltaí tionscadal ná 12.30 i.n., an Aoine 10ú lá Bealtaine 2013
Le haghaidh foirm iarratais nó tuilleadh eolais téigh i dteagmháil le
P Ó Mordha ar (028) 90 321 475 nó ag pomordha@comhairle.org<mailto:pomordha@comhairle.org>
Seoladh: 4 Sráid na Banríona Béal Feirste BT1 6ED
