Earraí na Nollag
Nollaig 20, 2012
Earraí na Nollag ó oifig Gaeilge Locha Riach:
- Féilire Dhátheangach 2013 Chumann Staire Teaghlaigh Oirthear na Gaillimhe – 1x €7; 2x €10
- Aibítir na Gaeilge – Míreanna mearaí le Litreacha, Focail agus Pictiúir – €17
- Leabhar Dathúcháin na Nollag – €4
- Míreanna mearaí d’Uachtaráin na hÉireann – €14
Teil: 091 870718
Rphost: oifig@lochariach.com
www.lochariach.com
‘We need to review the time spent on certain subjects’
Nollaig 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?
Nollaig 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
Nollaig 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.
CD nua – Sa mBaile i mo Cholainn
Nollaig 14, 2012
Le Pádraig Ó Fátharta, sagart i gConamara, an t-sraith dlúth-cheirníní labhartha seo, SA MBAILE I MO CHOLAINN. Agus an saol ag athrú in aghaidh an lae, tugann Pádraig cuireadh dúinn stopadh corr-uair, agus cuireann sé cleachtaí agus machnaimh ar fáil dúinn le muid a shuaimhniú, sa gcaoi go mbeadh ár gcolainn agus ár n-intinn ag iomramh le chéile ar aon bhuille amháin.
www.athomeinmybody.com
Déan Dráma 1: Ceoldrámaí agus amhráin nuachumtha do na bunranganna le trí dlúthdhiosca
Nollaig 14, 2012
Hóng – Úrscéal mistéire agus eachtraíochta do léitheoirí in aois 10–14
Nollaig 14, 2012
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
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
