Christmas Gifts
December 20, 2012
Christmas gifts from Gaeilge Locha Riach office:
- Bilingual Calendar 2013 by East Galway Family History Society Co. Ltd. 1x €7; 2x €10
- Irish Alphabet – Jigsaw with Letters, Words and Pictures – €17
- Presidents of Ireland Jigsaw – €14
- Christmas Colouring Book – €4
Tel: 091 870718
Email: oifig@lochariach.com
‘We need to review the time spent on certain subjects’
December 18, 2012
Pupils in a number of countries are performing significantly above Irish students
‘Good, but could do better,” seems to be the verdict of two major international reports on pupil achievement published last week. They showed fourth-class pupils in primary schools achieving well in reading, mathematics and science. In all three areas, Irish pupils scored significantly above the international average.
In the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS 2011), Irish students were ranked 10th out of 45 participating countries. Students in only five places performed significantly better than Irish students: Hong Kong, Finland, Singapore, the Russian Federation and Northern Ireland.
Irish students scored significantly above the international average in both maths and science in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS 2011). Ireland was placed 17th in maths and 22nd in science out of the 50 participating countries.
Of course, pencil and paper tests don’t tell us everything about what children are learning in school, but it is an important part of our Literacy and Numeracy Strategy that we should benchmark the performance of Irish students against that of students in other countries. Until now, we have had no such indicators at primary level and so the TIMSS and PIRLS reports are significant and welcome.
Even though these are just one set of test results, it’s encouraging to see Irish students do so well in international comparisons. It is particularly good to see Ireland having substantially lower proportions of poorer-performing students in both reading and maths than in other countries. The efforts that we have put into our DEIS programme to support schools serving areas of disadvantage, and the special needs resources that we have deployed in all schools, are having a positive effect.
But it’s my duty not to be complacent.
Pupils in a number of countries are performing significantly above Irish students in all three tests. So, there is still work to be done to raise standards in Irish schools.Our neighbours in Northern Ireland have achieved significantly better results in mathematics, for example, and students in many countries are scoring much better in science.
The comprehensive programme laid out in the National Literacy and Numeracy strategy has the range of measures that we need to improve reading and maths standards. We have made a good start. Teacher education is being reformed. Schools are working to improve instruction, assessment and reporting to parents. The introduction of school self-evaluation and the improvements we have made to the inspection of schools are further important supports for better learning.
TIMSS and PIRLS demonstrate that we must continue this work. The good progress achieved by students in reading at primary level must be built upon in all primary schools and also at second level. I have prioritised English in the reform of Junior Cycle and work is well underway in the implementation of the literacy and numeracy strategy in many second-level schools.
However, the inspectorate’s report on the implementation of DEIS at post-primary level showed considerable weaknesses in the targeting of DEIS initiatives in post-primary schools and we need to improve this aspect of our work.
The areas of weakness in maths among Irish pupils shown up in TIMSS – such as reasoning, shape and measures – are precisely the areas shown as weak in our national assessments at primary level. It’s not surprising that the weaknesses in maths at primary level are also evident at post-primary level. These are among the areas targeted for change in Project Maths. Indeed, these issues point to the need for higher standards of mathematical understanding among all teachers – a key aim of the changes we are making to teachers’ professional development.
TIMSS also challenges us to think about the importance we attach to different aspects of the curriculum. The performance of students in science is somewhat disappointing, although Irish students are above the international average. One underlying reason may be the lack of science skills among primary-school teachers, but the TIMSS study shows that Irish pupils spend considerably less time on science than pupils in other countries.
I have asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to review the recommended time allocations for all subjects in the primary school.
I look forward to the inclusive debate that we must have on this issue for the future good of all our young people.
http://www.irishtimes.com
Foilsithe ar 18 Nollaig 2012
What will happen in education in 2013?
December 18, 2012
It’s time to find out who in education has been naughty or nice and how the New Year will look in the classroom
22% Percentage of Leaving Cert students who sat higher-level maths this year – the highest on record.
66,891 Total number of applications for student grants to new SUSI. Only 20,589 have been processed to date.
€ 30,702 Salary of new entrants to teaching. In 2010, it was more than ¤39,000.
From page 6 There will be increasing speculation about Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn’s future.
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn can reflect on 2012 with quiet satisfaction. Key elements of his reform programme, such as changes to the Junior Cert and school patronage, are up and running. Further reforms are planned.
The Minister, now aged 66, insists he is there for the long haul, all the way to the next election. But it’s been a long time since any education minister completed five years in Marlborough Street. Quinn is the fifth person to hold the portfolio since 2004. With a Cabinet reshuffle due in September after the EU presidency, there is already speculation that Richard Bruton could move to education, although surely Labour would would want to retain the education portfolio?
Quinn, a distinguished former president of Ecofin-EU finance ministers, will also be linked to the EU commissioner post which falls vacant next summer. Labour has never held the post and a heavy hitter such as Quinn would secure a very senior post; and that could be important in key discussions on our debt burden. So will Quinn be in education this time next year? No one, least of all the Minister himself, is sure
With Quinn unlikely to contest the next election, there will also be pressure from some in the party to move on.
So will Quinn be in education this time next year? No one, least of all the Minister himself, is sure.
What’s certain is there will be a wave of speculation about his future. The hope must be that it will not derail or slow down his reform agenda.
Northern Ireland will become the new Finland.
For year we have looked north to Finland for education’s promised land. But the latest international rankings for primary schools suggest that the promised land may actually be up the road.
Northern Ireland is among the elite performers in both reading and maths where it significantly outperformed the Republic.
Its secret? A concerted move to boost standards in literacy and numeracy and radical reform of teacher education.
The good news is that similar reforms are already under way south of the Border.
There will be speculation about a new working contract for teachers as part of Croke Park Two.
It has been a good year in hard times for the teacher unions, the INTO, Asti and the TUI. Croke Park has protected pay, conditions and jobs, except for new entrants, and there has been no increase in class size for most schools. But there are already signs the Government is targeting the working conditions of teachers, especially at second level where teachers work 167 days a year.
It may be that the Government will press for a new teaching contract where second level teachers are required to be on the school premises during office hours every day. There could also be changes to arrangements for oral exam and much else.
President Higgins will become even more outspoken on education.
The President launched a number of thinly veiled attacks on the “pro-business” agenda of the UCD president, Hugh Brady, and other university leaders in 2012. Expect more robust comments as the Government targets academic working hours and performance-related pay in Croke Park Two.
Opposition to the new Junior Cert will stiffen among teachers.
While change to the Junior Cert has received a hugely positive response from educationalists and commentators, it’s viewed with suspicion by many rank and file teachers. There are fears the new exam gives an advantage to better resourced schools and fails to prepare students for a high stakes Leaving Cert exam. Clearly, the Department of Education has still to make the case for change to the ordinary teacher.
Expect this issue to dominate the Easter teacher conferences of Asti and the TUI.
Waterford will secure a new technological university.
Combined efforts by Brendan Howlin and Phil Hogan will help deliver the new technological university for Waterford, despite the scepticism of some in the Department of Education and the Higher Education Authority.
Little evidence of real collaboration between the universities will emerge, despite their commitment to do so.
Two outstanding HEA reports this year exposed one glaring truth – the seven universities are run like proud, independent fiefdoms. They have no great appetite for pooling resources. Next year, various reports will back regional clusters, deeper collaboration and the rest, but the universities will be slow to change.
Here’s a forecast: This time next year there will still be huge duplication of courses in engineering, education and humanities.
Reform of third-level admissions will begin in earnest.
The university presidents are due to report early next year on changes to the CAO. Expect more broadly based first year university courses in science, engineering, languages and much else. There will be a move away from highly specialised combinations where students need more than 500 points.
http://www.irishtimes.com/
Foilsithe ar 18 Nollaig 2012
Post Fógraithe: Feidhmeannach Riaracháin
December 18, 2012
Tá Feidhmeannach Riaracháin á lorg ag An Foras Pátrúnachta, Pátrún Náisiúnta agus Eagraíocht Bhainistíochta ar Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge ag an mbun agus ag an meánleibhéal.
Duine le hard scileanna riaracháin oifige, sár scileanna cumarsáide mar aon le hardchaighdeán Gaeilge atá de dhíth.
Riachtanach don phost:
Taithí riaracháin oifige, ábaltacht oibriú as a stuaim féin, ceadúnas tiomána agus carr.
Conradh bliana atá i gceist le tréimhse promhadh 3 mhí. (Is féidir síneadh ama a chur leis an gconradh seo)
Tuarastal: €25,000 – €30,000 (Ag brath ar cháilíochtaí agus ar thaithí)
Tuilleadh eolais: caoimhin@foras.ie.
Iarratais:
Seol litir iarratais mar aon le CV chuig caoimhin@foras.ie roimh 16:00, 04 Eanáir 2013.
Ní ghlacfar le haon iarratais i ndiaidh an spriocdháta.
Is fostóir comhionannais deise é An Foras Pátrúnachta.
New CD – At Home in my Body
December 14, 2012
AT HOME IN MY BODY is a series of spoken-word CDs by Connemara-based priest Pádraig Ó Fátharta. In the midst of profound social change Pádraig invites us to stop for a moment and provides us with reflections and practices to bring our bodies and minds into harmony.
www.athomeinmybody.com
Déan Dráma 1: Musical plays and songs for early primary school classes with three CDs
December 14, 2012
Hóng – A new novel in Irish full of mystery and adventure For readers aged 10–14 years
December 14, 2012
Bitesize Irish Gaelic – Competition
December 13, 2012
Bitesize Irish Gaelic is an Irish language-learning company based in Limerick, Ireland. They have recently released an album designed to help you learn the Irish (Gaelic) language on the go.
The album “Learn Irish With Eoin” is a new way to learn Irish (Gaelic) recorded by Eoin – a native Irish speaker who explains the concepts to you in English.
The album is just over 2 hours long, has 16 tracks in total and is download-only.
“Learn Irish With Eoin” is available on iTunes and it makes a great gift this Christmas.
Bitesize Irish Gaelic have given us a copy of the album to give away. All you have to do is e-mail them at: info@eteanga.ie
We’ll announce the winner on December 17th.
Further information is available at www.bitesizeirishgaelic.com.
Decision on future of Irish groups in 2013
December 13, 2012
The future of 19 Irish language organisations is still uncertain as ministers from both the Irish Government and Northern Ireland Executive yesterday postponed making a final decision on a new funding structure for the sector until spring 2013.
Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Dennihan TD as well as Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs Dinny Mcginley TD met with their counterparts Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure Carál Ní Chuilin MLA, and Junior Minister Jonathan Bell MLA at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh yesterday.
It was expected that the ministers were to sign off on a new funding structure which has been sanctioned by the board of language body Foras na Gaeilge.
However a statement issued after the meeting confirms that the funding structure will be discussed at the next meeting of the council in the spring.
It was the NSMC which initially directed Foras na Gaeilge to undertake a review of the Irish language voluntary sector in 2009 .
However there were fears that many of the organisations would be shut down under the controversial ‘Samhail Nua Mhaoinithe’ proposal first mooted in 2010.
That funding structure was rejected earlier this year and Foras na Gaeilge have since been working on a new funding model for the sector.
Organisations currently core-funded by Foras na Gaeilge include Irish language groups such as Altram, An tÁisaonad, An tOireachtas, Glór na nGael, Cumann na bhFiann, Comhaltas Uladh, Comhar na Múinteoirí Gaeilge, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Comhlachas Náisiúnta Drámaíochta, Comhluadar, Conradh na Gaeilge, Forbairt Naíonraí Teoranta, Forbairt Feirste, Gael Linn, Gaelscoileanna Teo, Iontaobhas Ultach, Pobal, Raidió Fáilte and Raidió na Life.
The organisations have been sanctioned interim funding until June 2013.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Pilot surveys on parental patronage preferences show demand for diversity
December 12, 2012
Minister for Education publishes Report on the surveys of parental preferences on primary school patronage in five pilot areas
Surveys undertaken in five pilot areas on primary school patronage show that there is parental demand for a greater choice of patron in each town.
The surveys were conducted in Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall as part of the Minister for Education & Skills’ response to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary sector. These five areas were chosen to pilot the survey before it is extended to the balance of 44 towns identified following the Forum Report.
The surveys show that in the five areas Educate Together has emerged as the first choice of alternative patron. Each of the five towns already has an existing Gaelscoil, which is capable of accommodating the demand expressed for Irish language medium schools.
Publishing the Department’s report on the five surveys to the New Schools Establishment Group, the body tasked with verifying the information, Minister Ruairí Quinn T.D. said, “Parents have been given a voice through this survey process to express a preference for the types of schools they want to send their children to. While many are happy with the schools already available in their area, there is a clear demand from others for greater choice.”
“I will now ask the main patron in each area, the Catholic Bishop or Archbishop, to consider the re-configuration options open to him which would allow sufficient school accommodation to be made available to facilitate this choice.”
The Minister is requesting each of the patrons to consult with their local school communities. The Department is requesting an interim response in three months and a final response in six months.
Minister Quinn has also announced that the survey will be rolled out to further areas in early January. “Parents from the other towns identified following the Forum Report on Patronage will be able to express their views on the choice of primary schools in their towns via the survey from the 9th of January for one month.”
The report published today outlines in detail the result of the surveys carried out over three weeks, beginning in late October. Parents of pre-school and primary school going children were asked to take part in a survey, with almost 99% doing so on-line, to determine if there is demand for a wider choice of patron in their locality.
The aim of the survey was to establish the level of parental demand for a wider choice of patronage in primary schools in the areas. Each town has a relatively stable population and therefore little prospect of a new school opening there in coming years. A total of 1,836 valid survey responses were received. These represented 3,494 children in the five areas.
The number of parents who supported a wider choice of patron ranged from 37% to 50% of respondents in the five areas. The percentage of parents who said they would send their children to an alternative school patron if available ranged from 26% to 36%. While those who did not want to see more choice ranged from 34% to 44% of respondents.
On their preference for English or Irish medium schools, 70% to almost 80% of respondents chose English medium schools, while the preference for Irish medium instruction ranged from almost 10% to 21%.
Of those parents seeking wider choice of patron, Educate Together was the first preference of 58% to 76% of parents, An Forás Patrúnachta was first choice for between 6% to 26% of parents and the VECs ranged from 10% to 19%.
Minister Quinn concluded by thanking all the primary school patron bodies and the education partners for their co-operation to date with the surveys and said that he looked forward to the continued positive engagement of all parties so that diversity of choice can become a reality across the country.
EDUCATION.IE
