Few Revelatory Moments in Tetchy Higher Education Debate

Posted in Governance and administration on January 28th, 2020 by steve

Ireland“Higher education’s Cassells report came under scrutiny this afternoon at a third-level education debate held in Trinity, with politicians of all hues quarreling over funding during a debate that saw more arguments about figures and statistics than on the ideas underpinning the future of the sector …” (more)

[Donal MacNamee, Sárán Fogarty, Ciaran Molloy and Emer Moreau, University Times, 28 January]

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Minister admits need for increased funding as parties debate future of higher education

Posted in Governance and administration on January 28th, 2020 by steve

Ireland“Representatives from six of Ireland’s main political parties clashed over the future of higher education at a debate held in Trinity today, with significant attention given to the balance between a system funded by taxation or by student fees and the current Fine Gael government’s allocations to higher education, which Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor said were larger than suggested by other parties but conceded that the sector still required ‘extra funding …” (more)

[Lauren Boland and Finn Purdy, Trinity News, 28 January]

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Fine Gael pledges four further technological universities

Posted in Governance and administration on January 28th, 2020 by steve

Ireland“Fine Gael has said four further technological universities (TUs) will be established in the State within the lifetime of the next government. At a briefing on its education policies on Wednesday, Minister for Education Joe McHugh and Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor also promised a 25% increase in capitation funding for schools, the abolition of charges in the school transport scheme and a new free school books scheme for all primary schools …” (more)

[Harry McGee, Irish Times, 27 January]

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One in three students calls for English to be optional on Leaving Cert

Posted in Teaching on January 28th, 2020 by steve

Ireland“More than a third (36%) of Leaving Certificate students think English should be an optional subject. The Irish Independent/Studyclix.ie survey for the ‘Written Word’ supplement, part one of which is free in today’s paper, questioned students about their attitudes to learning English and the current structure of the exams …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 28 January]

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We need clarity on Leaving Cert science

Posted in Teaching on January 28th, 2020 by steve

Ireland“Sir, – I would like to write to support Prof Ainé Hyland’s concerns about the proposed revision of the Leaving Certificate (Letters, January 21st). I have been an active observer and supporter of science teaching in Irish schools since 1978, in particular the teaching of chemistry. The proposed minimalist specifications for the Leaving Certificate science subjects leave much to be desired as satisfactory and workable curriculum documents …” (more)

[Peter Childs, Irish Times, 28 January]

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