School patronage survey queried
Nollaig 14, 2012
Senior figure in Catholic education says few want patronage changes Some Catholic-run schools to be turned over to other patron bodies next year
Only a tiny percentage of parents in some areas favour changes to school patronage, according to a senior figure in Catholic education.
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has claimed the results of parental surveys in five pilot areas show a strong demand for change. After the publication of the survey results this week, the Department of Education hopes to begin the process of handing over Catholic-run schools to other patron bodies by September 2014.
However, Father Michael Drumm of t he Catholic Schools Partnership maintains only 25 per cent of relevant parents in the areas surveyed responded to the survey.
“I am not clear as to why the Department of Education cannot publish the exact statistic on the percentage of parents who participated. I think people should look at the real figures. Take Arklow – those who want change are parents of 80 children in a school population of 1,965. That is only 4 per cent .’’ Parents surveyed Parents in Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall in Dublin were surveyed on school patronage last month.
Parents in 39 other areas – also identified as those where the Catholic Church is overrepresented – will be surveyed next month.
Mr Quinn has said he would like to see 50 per cent of all schools divested from Catholic control. Yesterday, Father Drumm said the survey results did not provide a mandate for this kind of radical change.
“Those who expressed an opinion in favour of change amount in each of the five areas to less than 10 per cent of parents.’’ Consultation process “It must be noted that this is not a survey in the ordinary sense of the term as it is not based on a representative sample. Rather it is a consultation process with parents. What we learned is that close to 10 per cent of parents with children in Catholic schools would prefer another form of patronage. The partners should work together to reconfigure the system so that it responds to this level of demand for additional forms of patronage in a particular area.”
In other reaction, the Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference said the survey results show “significant affirmation of Catholic schools. In looking to the future it is clear that a very large number of parents wish to have their children educated in Catholic schools.’’
In looking to the future, it says Catholic patrons will need to consult all stakeholders in Catholic schools as they seek to “reconfigure the system to take account of the minority of parents who desire a change in patronage.’’
Over the next six months, the Catholic Church will be asked to i dentify schools which could be divested in the five pilot areas.
www.irishtimes.com
Bitesize Irish Gaelic – Comórtas
Nollaig 13, 2012
Is comhlacht é Bitesize Irish Gaelic atá lonnaithe i Luimneach. Tá albam eisithe acu a chabhróidh leat Gaeilge a fhoghlaim agus tá sé le h-íoslódáil ó iTunes. Ba mhór leo cóip den albam a bhronnadh saor in aisce; le cur isteach ar an gcomórtas ní gá ach ríomhphost a chur chucu ag info@eteanga.ie. Fógrófar buaiteoir an chomórtais ar an 17 Nollaig. Tá gach eolas maidir leo ar fáil ar www.bitesizeirishgaelic.com.
Cinneadh faoi Thodhchaí na nEagras le fógairt san athbhliain
Nollaig 13, 2012
Ní léir fós cad atá i ndán do na 19 n-eagraíocht Ghaeilge atá bunmhaoinithe ag Foras na Gaeilge ó shocraigh Airí ón dá dlínse thuaidh agus theas an cinneadh a chur ar athló go dtí 2013.
Bhuail an tAire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta Jimmy Deenihan TD agus Aire Stáit na Gaeltachta Dinny McGinley TD leis an Aire Cultúir, Ealaíon agus Fóillíochta Carál Ní Chuilín MLA (ar chlé) agus leis an Aire Sóisearach Jonathan Bell MLA ag cruinniú d’Fhoras Teanga na Comhairle Aireachta Thuaidh Theas in Ard Mhacha inné,12 Nollaig.
Bhí togra Fhoras na Gaeilge maidir le struchtúr úr maoinithe do na heagrais bhunmhaoinithe le plé ag na hAirí agus bhí an tuairim ann go forleathan go mbeadh sé faofa ag an gComhairle Aireachta inné.
Tugtar le fios sa ráiteas a eisíodh tar éis an chruinnithe áfach nach ndéanfar plé ar an struchtúr úr maoinithe go dtí céad chruinniú eile na Comhairle san earrach.
Ba í an Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh Theas a thug an treoir d’Fhoras na Gaeilge athstruchtúrú a dhéanamh ar an mbealach a gcuirtear maoiniú ar fáil don earnáil bhunmhaoinithe Ghaeilge sa bhliain 2009.
Ach ní raibh glacadh ró-mhaith leis an tsamhail úr mhaoinithe a bheartaigh Foras na Gaeilge agus bhí an tsamhail sin caite sna traipisí níos túisce i mbliana.
Ó shin i leith bhí an Foras ag obair ar thogra eile ach ní raibh aon cháipéisíocht faoin struchtúr úr maoinithe sin feicthe ag na heagrais roimh chruinniú an lae inné.
Ar na heagraíochtaí atá bunmhaoinithe ag Foras na Gaeilge tá: 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 agus Raidió na Life.
Tá maoiniú eatramhach ceadaithe ag na heagrais go dtí mí an Mheithimh 2013.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Stiúrthóir Naíscoile
Nollaig 13, 2012
Tá Stiúrthóir Naíonra á lorg ag Naíscoil Shliabh Fuait, Ard Macha.
Riachtanach:
Gaeilge líofa, cáillíocht NVQIII nó PGCE nó choíbhéis, táithí 2 bhlian
Inmhianaithe:
Ceol agus dráma, garchabhair phéidiatraiceach
Is post páirtaimseartha é seo. Tuarastal de réir caillíochtaí agus taithí. Is fostóir comhionannais í Naíscoil Shliabh Fuait.
Iarratais:
Seol CV agus litir chuig:
Tarlach Ó Conghalaigh
19 Desart Lane
Ard Macha
BT61 8AR
Guthán: 028 37518507
Nó
Déaglán Mac Tréinfhir
22 Cathedral Mews
Ard Macha
BT61 8AX
Guthán: 028 37527196
Maoinithe ag Foras na Gaeilge
Cuntóir Naíscoile
Nollaig 13, 2012
Tá Cuntóir Naíscoile á lorg ag Naíscoil Shliabh Fuait, Ard Macha.
Riachtanach:
Cáillíocht NVQ II agus a bheith toilteanach tabhairt faoi NVQ III, cumas cuí Gaeilge
Inmhianaithe:
Ceol agus dráma, garchabhair phéidiatraiceach
Is post páirtaimseartha é seo. Tuarastal de réir caillíochtaí agus taithí.
Is fostóir comhionannais í Naíscoil Shliabh Fuait.
Iarratais:
Seol CV agus litir chuig:
Tarlach Ó Conghalaigh
19 Desart Lane
Ard Macha
BT61 8AR
Guthán: 028 37518507
Nó
Déaglán Mac Tréinfhir
22 Cathedral Mews
Ard Macha
BT61 8AX
Guthán: 028 37527196
Maoinithe ag Foras na Gaeilge
Church to identify schools it can divest
Nollaig 13, 2012
Handing over of Catholic-run schools to other patrons could begin by 2014
Survey finds Educate Together preferred alternative patron in five pilot areas
INTO says any consultation during the coming months must include teachers
The process of handing over Catholic-run schools to other patron bodies could begin by September 2014.
In a landmark move, the Catholic Church will be asked to identify schools which could be divested in five areas where parents say in a public survey they want a wider choice of school patron.
The multidenominational group Educate Together is poised to take over the management of schools in these five areas after it emerged as the preferred alternative patron in the survey.
The surveys were conducted on a pilot basis in five areas: Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall in Dublin. Parents in 39 other areas – also identified as those where the Catholic Church is over-represented – will be surveyed next month.
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn insists the survey results show strong parental demand for a greater choice of patron. However, the very low turnout in some areas – less than 40 per cent – will be seized on by critics as evidence that the public is not greatly exercised about changes to school patronage.
The department says there was “an encouraging level of interest from parents” in the online surveys. These were governed by a code of conduct which limited spending and publicity by all patrons. This may be a factor in explaining the relatively low turnout.
In Whitehall, for example, less than 1,000 of close to 2,500 parents of school-going children participated. Overall, 1,788 valid survey responses were received, representing 3,459 children in the five areas.
Mr Quinn will now ask the Catholic bishop in each of the five pilot areas “to consider the reconfiguration options open to him which would allow sufficient school accommodation to be made available to facilitate t his demand f or greater choice”.
The Minister is requesting each of the patrons to consult their local school communities. The department is requesting an interim response in three months and a final response in six months.
Last night the INTO said any consultation planned during the coming months must include the teaching staff.
Paul Rowe of Educate Together said the survey confirmed that parents would like a choice of school type, and that many had a preference for Educate Together schools.
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin of Labour said he was delighted to see the public demand for change. This survey was never an attempt to criticise local schools but an attempt by this Government to engage with parents at a local level.
What parents want
Of those parents seeking a wider choice of patron, Educate Together was the first preference of 56 per cent to 76 per cent of parents
An Forás Patrúnachta was first choice for between 6 per cent and 26 per cent of parents, and the VECs first choice for 10 per cent to 18 per cent
The number of parents who supported a wider choice of patron ranged from 37 per cent to 50 per cent
Those who did not want to see more choice ranged from 35 per cent to 44 per cent Based on surveys in five pilot areas: Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall
www.irishtimes.com
Bishops get 6 months to respond on patronage
Nollaig 13, 2012
Catholic bishops have been given six months to respond to the demand for alternative primary schools in five specific areas where the Department of Education conducted a survey among parents.
The deadline has been set by Ruairi Quinn, the education minister, after publishing a report on the five pilot surveys, while parents in a further 39 areas will be asked for their views on primary patronage.
The report contains the attitudes of parents of 2,544 primary pupils and 915 pre-school children, and recommends school buildings be freed up to allow an Educate Together school be set up in each of the five areas.
Although fewer than 25% of parents with children aged 12 or under responded in two areas, support for a wider choice of patronage ranged from 37% in Castlebar, Co Mayo, to just over half in Tramore, Co Waterford. The numbers who would send their children to a school run by an alternative patron was between one quarter and just over one-in-three, and 35% to 44% did not support a wider choice of patrons.
The five areas are among 44 identified as having little or no choice of primary school other than those under the patronage of local bishops.
Among parents who want greater choice, multi-denominational group Educate Together was significantly preferred in all five areas. There was strong support for all-Irish schools patron An Foras Pátrúnachta in Arklow (26%) and Tramore (21%), and one-in-five parents who wanted more choice in Tramore opted for the local vocational education committee.
Mr Quinn said while many parents were happy with the schools available in their area, there was a clear demand from others for more choice.
“I will now ask the main patron in each area, the Catholic bishop or archbishop, to consider the reconfiguration options open to him which would allow suffic-ient school accommodation to be made available to facilitate this choice,” he said.
Mr Quinn wants their interim responses, based on local school consultations, within three months and a final response in six months.
Fr Michael Drumm, chair of the Catholic Schools Partnership, which represents bishops and religious orders, said the responses show 5% to 10% of parents want alternative schools for their children. His interpretation is based on an assumption that those who did not respond do not want any change to current school choices.
“There’s clearly a huge interest in Catholic schooling but there is also a clear need to reconfigure the system for the minority of parents who want additional forms of patronage. Those who told us the level of demand was 50% were clearly wrong,” he said.
www.irishexaminer.com
Léiríonn suirbhéanna treoracha ar roghanna tuismitheoirí maidir le pátrúnacht go bhfuil éileamh ar éagsúlacht
Nollaig 12, 2012
Foilsíonn an tAire Oideachais tuarascáil ar shuirbhé a rinneadh ar thuismitheoirí i gcúig cheantar threoracha mar gheall ar phátrúnacht bunscoileanna
Taispeánann suirbhéanna a rinneadh i gcúig cheantar threoracha mar gheall ar phátrúnacht bunscoileanna go bhfuil éileamh i measc tuismitheoirí i ngach ceann de na bailte sin ar rogha pátrúnachta níos mó.
Rinneadh suirbhéanna san Inbhear Mór, i gCaisleán an Bharraigh, i dTrá Mhór, i mBaile Átha Troim agus i bhFionnbhrú mar chuid de fhreagra den Aire Oideachais & Scileanna ar an bhFóram um Pátrúnacht agus Iolrachas in earnáil na mBunscoileanna. Socraíodh suirbhé a dhéanamh ar na cúig bhaile sin sula leathnófaí an suirbhé go dtí na 44 baile eile a aithníodh i dTuarascáil an Fhóraim ar Phátrúnacht.
Taispeánann na cúig shuirbhé gurb é Educate Together an chéad rogha i ngach ceann de na cúig bhaile. Tá gaelscoil i ngach ceann de na cúig bhaile cheana féin, ar féidir léi freastal ar an éileamh ar scoil Ghaeilge a tháinig chun cinn sa suirbhé.
Ba é an Grúpa um Bunú Scoileanna Nua a d’fhíoraigh sonraí an tsuirbhé. Agus tuarascáil na Roinne chuig an nGrúpa i dtaobh na cúig shuirbhé á fhoilsiú aige, dúirt an tAire Ruairí Quinn, T.D., ‘Thug an suirbhé seo deis do thuismitheoirí an cineál scoile a theastaíonn uathu dá gcuid páistí a chur in iúl. Cé go bhfuil mórchuid daoine sásta leis na scoileanna atá ar fáil cheana féin ina gceantar, is léir go bhfuil daoine eile ag lorg rogha níos mó.”
“Iarrfaidh mé anois ar an bpríomhphátrún i ngach ceantair, an t-easpag nó an t-ardeaspag Caitliceach, breithniú a dhéanamh ar conas a d’fhéadfadh sé dóthain cóiríocht scoile a chur ar fáil chun na roghanna sin a éascú.”
Beidh an tAire ag iarraidh ar gach duine de na pátrúin dul i gcomhairle leis na pobail scoile ina gceantar féin. Beidh an Roinn ag súil le freagra eatramhach i gceann trí mhí agus freagra deiridh i gceann sé mhí.
Tá fógartha ag an Aire Quinn cheana féin go ndéanfar an suirbhé sna ceantair eile go luath i mí Eanáir. “Sna bailte eile a aithníodh i dTuarascáil an Fhóraim ar Phátrúnacht beidh deis ag tuismitheoirí a gcuid tuairimí a chur in iúl ar an rogha bunscoileanna atá ar fáil ina mbailte féin i suirbhé a dhéanfar ón 9 Eanáir ar feadh míosa.”
Tugtar sa tuarascáil a foilsíodh inniu mionchuntas ar thoradh na gcúig suirbhé a rinneadh i gcaitheamh trí seachtaine ag tosú ag deireadh mhí Dheireadh Fómhair. Iarradh ar thuismitheoirí a raibh leanaí réamhscoile agus bunscoile acu bheith páirteach sa suirbhé ar líne le fáil amach an raibh éileamh ar rogha pátrúnachta níos leithne ina gceantar. Fuarthas freagraí ó 99% de thuismitheoirí, nach mór.
Ba é aidhm an tsuirbhé a fháil amach cén t-éileamh a bhí ann i measc tuismitheoirí ar rogha pátrúnachta i mbunscoileanna sna ceantair sin. Tá daonra measartha cobhsaí ag gach ceann de na cúig bhaile sin agus mar sin is beag seans go n-osclófar scoil nua in aon cheann díobh sna blianta amach romhainn. Fuarthas 1,836 freagra bailí ar an suirbhé. B’ionann sin agus freagraí ar son 3,494 páiste sna cúig cheantar.
Chuir idir 37% agus 50% de na tuismitheoirí sna cúig cheantar in iúl gur mhaith leo rogha pátrúnachta níos leithne. Dúirt idir 26% agus 36% de thuismitheoirí sna ceantair sin go gcuirfidís a gcuid leanaí chuig scoil faoi phátrúnacht eile dá mbeadh sí ar fáil. Bhí idir 34% agus 44% de thuismitheoirí sásta leis an rogha a bhí acu i láthair na huaire.
Maidir leis an rogha idir scoil Bhéarla agus scoil Ghaeilge, roghnaigh idir 70% agus 80%, nach mór, scoil Bhéarla, agus idir 10% agus 21% scoil Ghaeilge.
I gcás na dtuismitheoirí sin a dteastaíonn rogha pátrúnachta níos leithne uathu, ba é Educate Together céad rogha idir 58% agus 76% de thuismitheoirí, ba é An Foras Pátrúnachta céad rogha idir 6%agus 26% de thuismitheoirí agus ba iad na Coistí Gairmoideachais céad rogha idir 10% agus 19% de thuismitheoirí.
Ghabh an tAire Quinn buíochas leis na forais phátrúnachta bunscoile ar fad agus leis na comhpháirtithe oideachais as a gcomhoibriú go dtí seo leis na suirbhéanna. Dúirt sé go raibh súil aige go leanfadh an caidreamh dearfach ar aghaidh ionas go bhféadfaí an t-éileamh ar éagsúlacht ar fud na tíre a shásamh.
EDUCATION.IE
Patronage change sought in surveys
Nollaig 12, 2012
The Department of Education is set to press ahead with the process of handing over Catholic-run schools to other patron bodies after the results of parent surveys were published today.
The Department insists the surveys show strong parental demand for a greater choice of patron.
But the very low turnout in some areas – less than 40 per cent- will be seized on by critics as evidence the public is not greatly exercised about changes to school patronage.
The surveys were conducted on a pilot basis in five areas Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall. Shortly , they will be rolled out in 44 other areas which have been identified as those where the Catholic church may be over represented.
In the five areas, the multi-denominational group Educate Together emerged as the first choice of alternative patron. Each of the five areas already has an existing Gaelscoil, which is capable of accommodating the demand expressed for Irish language medium schools.
“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,” Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said.
“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.”
Mr Quinn 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.
Mr 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 children were asked to take part in a survey, with almost 99 per cent doing so online, 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 1,788 valid survey responses were received. These represented 3,459 children in the five areas.
The number of parents who supported a wider choice of patron ranged from 37 per cent to 50 per cent 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 25 per cent to 35 per cent. While those who did not want to see more choice ranged from 35 per cent to 44 per cent of respondents.
On their preference for the English or Irish language school medium, 70 per cent to almost 80 per cent of respondents chose English language schools, while the preference for instruction in the Irish language ranged from almost 10 per cent to 21 per cent.
Of those parents seeking wider choice of patron, Educate Together was the first preference of 56 per cent to 76 per cent of parents, An Forás Pátrúnachta was the first choice for between 6 per cent to 26 per cent of parents and the VECs ranged from 10 per cent to 18 per cent.
Number of responses in the five pilot areas :
* Arklow: 384 responses, representing 706 of the 1,965 pupils in primary schools in the area.
*Castlebar: 465 responses, representing 932 of the 2,261 pupils in the area.
*Tramore: 276 responses , representing 563 of the 1,644 pupils in the area.
*Trim: 300 responses, representing 588 of the 1,540 pupils in the area.
*Whitehall: 546 responses, representing 987 of the 2,449 pupils in the area.
Éileamh ar éagsulacht i mbunscoileanna na tíre
Nollaig 12, 2012
Tá éileamh ar rogha pátrúnachta níos leithne i mbunscoileanna na tíre, dar leis an Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna Ruairí Quinn TD
Tá tuarascáil nua ar shuirbhé a rinneadh ar thuismitheoirí i gcúig cheantar foilsithe ag an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna inniu. Ghlac 1,788 tuismitheoir a raibh leanaí réamhscoile agus bunscoile acu páirt sna suirbhéanna i mí Dheireadh Fómhair.
Rinneadh suirbhéanna san Inbhear Mór, i gCaisleán an Bharraigh, i dTrá Mhór, i mBaile Átha Troim agus i bhFionnbhrú mar chuid de fhreagra den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna ar an bhFóram um Pátrúnacht agus Iolrachas in earnáil na mBunscoileanna
Tá gaelscoil i ngach ceann de na cúig bhaile cheana féin, ar féidir léi freastal ar an éileamh ar scoil Ghaeilge a tháinig chun cinn sa suirbhé.
Léiríonn an tuarascáil go raibh idir 37% agus 50% de na tuismitheoirí sna cúig cheantar ag lorg rogha pátrúnachta níos leithne.
Ós a choinne sin, bhí idir 35% agus 44% de na tuismitheoirí sásta leis an rogha a bhí acu.
‘”Thug an suirbhé seo deis do thuismitheoirí an cineál scoile a theastaíonn uathu dá gcuid páistí a chur in iúl. Cé go bhfuil mórchuid daoine sásta leis na scoileanna atá ar fáil cheana féin ina gceantar, is léir go bhfuil daoine eile ag lorg rogha níos mó, ” a dúirt an tAire Oideachais.
Maidir leis an rogha idir scoil Bhéarla agus scoil Ghaeilge, roghnaigh idir 70% agus 80%, nach mór, scoil Bhéarla, agus idir 10% agus 21% scoil Ghaeilge.
I gcás na dtuismitheoirí sin a dteastaíonn rogha pátrúnachta níos leithne uathu, ba é Educate Together céad rogha idir 56% agus 76% de thuismitheoirí, ba é An Foras Pátrúnachta céad rogha idir 6% agus 26% de thuismitheoirí agus ba iad na Coistí Gairmoideachais céad rogha idir 10% agus 18% de thuismitheoirí.
Tá se fógartha chomh maith go reáchtálfar suirbhéanna eile i gceantair eile i mí Eanáir 2013.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
