“A Sinn Féin TD has urged NUI Galway to reverse its decision to charge students almost €300 for each repeat exam. Mayo TD Rose Conway-Walsh said that any fees charge must reflect the costs involved and the changed circumstances of students …” (more)
[Michael Malone, Galway Daily, 14 August]
“Solely using teacher estimates to allocate A-level grades in Northern Ireland would lack any level of credibility, the North’s education minister has insisted. Giving evidence to his Stormont scrutiny committee, Peter Weir resisted calls to scrap the results allocated to pupils using a standardisation calculation model and replace them with the grades predicted by their teachers …” (more)
[Irish Times, 14 August]
“The creation of more places in highly contested university courses is being discussed by Irish universities and the Department of Education Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris, has said. Speaking earlier this week, Minister Harris voiced his confidence in the ongoing talks …” (more)
[Gemma Farrell, College Tribune, 14 August]
“Education Minister Peter Weir is facing calls to scrap this year’s controversial A-level results – or reconsider his position – following a backlash from principals and pupils …” (more)
[Claire McNeilly, Belfast Telegraph, 13 August]
“Many of us have a low opinion of Stormont at the best of times but along comes a story that highlights the utter head-bangingly stupid nature of some of their more crazy decisions. Writing in today’s Irish Times Newton Emerson highlights the issue of the cap on local students …” (more)
[Brian O’Neill, Slugger O’Toole, 13 August]
“Sir, – You report that ‘Minister insists Leaving Cert students’ results will be “accurate, reliable and fair” to all’ (News, August 11th), citing issues in Scotland where calculated grades were reversed due to systematic biases shown toward pupils in socially disadvantaged communities. The issues being raised about calculated Leaving Cert grades seem to me to conflate two important but different issues …” (more)
[Shane Bergin, Irish Times, 14 August]
“Leaving Cert students’ calculated grades should not be dictated by the past performance of their schools, the Ombudsman for Children has warned. Dr Niall Muldoon’s comments come amid controversy over the use of calculated grades in the UK which have seen hit disadvantaged students’ hit hardest by downgrades of their teachers’predictions …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 13 August]
“Extra college places in Medicine and other hotly contested areas are on the agenda for discussion ahead of next month’s CAO Round 1 offers. Higher Education Minister Simon Harris confirmed today that more places are likely to open on some high demand university courses …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 12 August]
“A decision not to consider a home-schooled Leaving Cert student’s application for calculated grades is ‘unjust and discriminatory’, the High Court has heard. Elijah Burke claims the exclusion of home school students from the calculated grades process breaches his rights under the Article 42 of the Constitution and the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 …” (more)
[Aodhan O’Faolain and Ray Managh, Independent, 12 August]
“GCSE and A-level results could be mired in controversy after claims that some children will be disadvantaged simply because of the school they attend and grades could be appealed through the courts. This year because of the coronavirus pandemic children were unable to take key exams …” (more)
[Andrew Madden, Belfast Telegraph, 11 August]
“Young asylum seekers no longer have to spend three years in the Irish school system in order to qualify for educational support at third level, the Government will announce. The latest revision to the student grant scheme for young people in direct provision, to be announced today, means asylum seekers will no longer need to have completed the Leaving Cert or have spent three years in an Irish school to be able to apply for a student grant when moving into third level …” (more)
[Sorcha Pollak, Irish Times, 10 August]
“A Kerry councillor is calling for a radical overhaul of the Student Grant Scheme due to COVID-19. Fine Gael Councillor Michael Foley says he has been contacted by parents and students who are concerned about financing their places in college and the status of their applications for maintenance grants …” (more)
[Radio Kerry News, 9 August]
“A total of 4,411 applicants will receive 5,432 offers for third-level places through the CAO today. This round of offers – referred to as Round Zero – concerns applicants who are not awaiting their grades for the 2020 Leaving Certificate …” (more)
[Sean Murray, The Journal.ie, 8 August]
“Sinn Féin spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Rose Conway-Walsh has called on Further and Higher Education to be made accessible and affordable for everyone irrespective of their age, geography or financial circumstances …” (more)
[Sinn Féin, 6 August]
“Sinn Féin TD Kathleen Funchion is calling for third-level education to be made accessible and affordable for everyone, irrespective of age, geography or financial circumstances. Deputy Funchion is asking students in the Carlow/Kilkenny constituency to ‘tell their story’ by filling out Sinn Féin’s survey on the grants system …” (more)
[Suzanne Pender, Carlow Nationalist, 6 August]
“The Graduate Medical School at Ulster University’s Magee campus has begun recruiting students for 2021. It aims to recruit 70 students to begin a four-year medical degree course in September 2021 …” (more)
[Robbie Meredith, BBC News, 6 August]
“Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to provide third level educational opportunities for residents in direct provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 30 July]
“Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports that have been put in place to help students returning to third-level education who are uncertain as to the way in which they will pay fees, especially in cases in which part-time income has been affected by Covid-19 …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 30 July]
“Sir, – The surest way for schools to fully re-open at the end of August is to totally suppress Covid-19 on the entire island as per New Zealand. This means 100% buy-in on masks, distancing, etc, backed by effective legislation along with a 24-hour testing service, compulsory testing/isolation of incoming travellers, minimal foreign travel and all-island collaboration …” (more)
[Letters, Irish Times, 3 August]
“A students’ society at NUI Galway has criticised the university for raising the weekly fees at the college créche. NUIG Life Society claims fees have increased from €174 to €220 per week …” (more)
[Galway Bay FM, 30 July]
