# Education
Last week
15th January 2023 - 28th January 2023
# Education
Teachers in England and Wales vote for strikes in pay dispute
The National Education Union has declared seven days of walkouts in February and March.
This month
January 2023
# andrew tate
'Cause for deep concern': Influencer Andrew Tate is 'capturing the imagination' of young men
‘I’m teaching over 20 years and I haven’t heard anyone capture their imagination as much as this guy.’
# Exams
Leaving Cert students ask Foley to keep 'no cliff edge' vow - and avoid clash with Harry Styles gig
Norma Foley has a challenge ahead to keep everyone happy as she aims to reform the Leaving Certificate.
Voices
The Irish For: Jolabokaflod - a look at Iceland's Christmas books tradition
Darach Ó Séaghdha looks at how people in Iceland focus on books over the holiday season.
Last month
December 2022
# Courts
Girl takes High Court action against primary school over alleged failure to stop harassment from male student
The action follows concern for the girl’s safety on the school premises.
THE MORNING LEAD
'It will drive people away': Student teachers on the potential threat to career breaks
One teacher suggested that staff may simply resign and emigrate to teach elsewhere.
One teacher suggested that staff may simply resign and emigrate to teach elsewhere if the option is removed.
The Department of Education has emphasised that no decisions have been made.
Voices
Gary Gannon: Government must act immediately to address teacher shortages
The Social Democrats TD says the teacher shortage is at crisis point – he will table proposed solutions tomorrow.
Last year
2022
# Education
Parents, students and other stakeholders are being asked their views on Special Educational Needs
The Government has faced criticism about the difficulty in finding school and class places for children with additional needs.
# Cabinet
Social welfare supports of €141.4m provided to Ukrainians this year
Department of Social Protection spending is 1.4% higher than profiled for this year.
# out the gap
Thousands of students stage walk-out from lectures in cost of living protest
The protest aims “to remind college authorities and politicians that students aren’t an endless money pit”.
# school books
School books free at primary level next September but exclusion of secondary criticised as 'baffling'
The initiative comes following years of lobbying by parents’ groups and charities.
# Budget supports
'Significant intervention is needed': Coalition leaders to meet to discuss rising energy costs
Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan will bring a memo to Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting setting out a series of options.
# Special Education
Minister Madigan announces 17% increase in special class places for Dublin and Cork
15,759 special class places will be available this year, an increase of 2,312 from the previous school year.
# Higher Education
Additional €2 million in financial supports for underrepresented and disadvantaged students
The new funding will allow people who are on existing scholarships to retain funding for additional courses, including graduate entry medicine.
# sex education
New SPHE syllabus to teach Junior Certs how to recognise domestic violence, minister says
Emotional wellbeing, gender, and how to be safe online will be updated features of a new SPHE curriculum.
# Cost of Living
'We've no way to buy cheaper uniforms': Parents facing price hikes ahead of new school term
Poverty campaigners and parents’ groups fear that back-to-school costs will be compounded this year by the cost-of-living crisis.
Poverty campaigners and parents’ groups frequently highlight the cost of going back to school every summer.
There are growing fears that the cost-of-living crisis will place an additional burden on parents, Emer Moreau writes.
# Education
Government approves legislation to compel schools to provide special education classes more quickly
The legislation was announced this afternoon by Ministers Norma Foley and Josepha Madigan.
# Leaving Cert
Leaving Cert: CAO round one offers to come out on 8 September
Leaving Cert results will be delayed again this year, coming out in early September rather than mid-August.
# Leaving Cert
Leaving Cert: CAO round one offers to come out on 8 September
Leaving Cert results will be delayed again this year, coming out in early September rather than mid-August.
# Exams
Delay in issuing Leaving Cert results 'will cause huge levels of additional stress and worry'
The Leaving Cert exam results will be issued on 2 September.
# job fairy
Accountancy apprenticeship programme to create 140 jobs
Applications are based in colleges in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Monaghan, Waterford and Wicklow.
# Education
Colleges to get €3 million euro a year to support students with autism
Funding will start to be rolled out next year to approved projects.
# special education centres
Autism charity calls for immediate clarity on proposed 'special education centres'
Speaking this morning, Higher Education Minister Simon Harris said the proposal “won’t fly” with the public.
# Education
Government urged to confirm 'special education centres' no longer being considered
The proposal was met with backlash from parents and campaigners last week.
# special education centres
Communication of plans for special needs education ‘less than ideal’, Harris says
The Higher Education minister said it’s “absolutely essential” that the number of special education classes in mainstream schools is increased.
# Education
'Ten steps backwards': Govt proposal to open 'special educational needs centres' met with criticism
Five centres are set to open in Dublin in September as an “interim” solution for children without a special class place in school.
# Ukraine
Nearly 6,000 Ukrainian children and teens enrolled in Irish schools
The Department will continue to publish figures on the enrolment of Ukrainian children each month.
# Third Level Education
No date yet for promised cut to student contribution fee, Harris says
The Higher Education Minister said the Government is firmly against “unfair” student loans.
# SUSI
Simon Harris plans to 'overhaul' student grant system
The minister is bringing proposals to the Cabinet today.
# Fees
Minister 'disappointed' by BOI decision to end graduate medical student loan
Fees for graduate entry medicine (GEM) students are now set at €16,290 per year for Irish students.
# Attendance
Parents left stressed after schools report children to Tusla for missing days due to Covid
The number of children included in these absence reports increased during the pandemic due to Covid-19 illness and close contact rules.
# Fees
Registration fees for Ukrainian teachers 'under review', Teaching Council says
Labour’s education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin says there is an urgent need for language support for Ukrainian children.
# Education
Activists promise protests in Afghanistan if Taliban fails to reopen girls' schools
“If the girls’ schools remain closed even after one week, we will open them ourselves.”
# close the gap
Harris announces €450k funding to assist Traveller and Roma students in higher education
There is a significant gap in higher education between Travellers and the wider population, Minister Simon Harris says.
# Education
Minister says Irish third-level students fleeing Ukraine can continue their studies in Ireland
Simon Harris said work is also underway to ensure Ukrainian people can access higher education in Ireland too.
# school admissions
Housing crisis among reasons why ring-fencing school places is wrong, says Children's Ombudsman
It is currently allowed that 25% of school places can be reserved for children and grandchildren of past pupils.
# Education
Labour bill seeks to end single-sex schooling within 15 years
The party says the bill is needed amid “the wider discussion about gender equality”.
# schools admissions
Clause that ring-fences places for children of past pupils not widely used, committee to be told
Labour’s Bill seeks to change the School Admissions Act.
# old school
'Dismal' and 'inadequate' climate education must be tackled, students and teachers say
A new strategy on eduation for sustainable development is due to be published by the end of March.
Voices
Opinion: Time to go back to the whiteboard and reimagine our education system
Tanya Ward of the Children’s Rights Alliance argues that we need a more modern, dynamic approach to education in Ireland.
