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08/04/2010
Maths 'Bonus' Gets Reserved Welcome
The addition of 'bonus points' for passing maths as part of the Leaving Certificate has been broadly welcomed despite reservations from unions and Opposition politicians.
Yesterday Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan announced at the teachers’ conferences a bonus-point system for higher Leaving Certificate maths as five leading multinational companies confirmed 175 job vacancies in the technology sector.
A report on the new maths bonus scheme is expected to emerge this week and is being written by a working group comprising the Irish Universities Association, Forfas - the national advisory body for enterprise and science -- and the departments of Education and Enterprise.
However, Fine Gael Innovation Spokesperson Deirdre Clune, despite welcoming the move, questioned why the decision was being delayed until "yet another" report has been issued.
Responding today, Ms Clune said: "Minister Coughlan's reversal of her own Government’s policy on the introduction of bonus points for maths is a positive move, but I am disappointed that she is postponing a decision on this issue until yet another report has been issued.
"The Innovation Taskforce's recent report listed the immediate introduction of bonus points for maths as a key recommendation. There is no need to delay a decision any further.
"This Government is suffering from the paralysis of analysis. The Taoiseach and his Ministers are unwilling to make any decision, and are constantly deferring matters to review bodies."
Also today, the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) welcomed the reforms, although maintained that "ultimately the proof will be in the pudding".
The ISSU said it supported proposed bonus points for students who undertook higher level maths, and it also backed a review of the Junior Certificate programme.
It said the Minster had recognised "the need to move away from a system that encourages rote learning in a step towards a system that fosters critical thinking".
(DW/BMcc)
Yesterday Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan announced at the teachers’ conferences a bonus-point system for higher Leaving Certificate maths as five leading multinational companies confirmed 175 job vacancies in the technology sector.
A report on the new maths bonus scheme is expected to emerge this week and is being written by a working group comprising the Irish Universities Association, Forfas - the national advisory body for enterprise and science -- and the departments of Education and Enterprise.
However, Fine Gael Innovation Spokesperson Deirdre Clune, despite welcoming the move, questioned why the decision was being delayed until "yet another" report has been issued.
Responding today, Ms Clune said: "Minister Coughlan's reversal of her own Government’s policy on the introduction of bonus points for maths is a positive move, but I am disappointed that she is postponing a decision on this issue until yet another report has been issued.
"The Innovation Taskforce's recent report listed the immediate introduction of bonus points for maths as a key recommendation. There is no need to delay a decision any further.
"This Government is suffering from the paralysis of analysis. The Taoiseach and his Ministers are unwilling to make any decision, and are constantly deferring matters to review bodies."
Also today, the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) welcomed the reforms, although maintained that "ultimately the proof will be in the pudding".
The ISSU said it supported proposed bonus points for students who undertook higher level maths, and it also backed a review of the Junior Certificate programme.
It said the Minster had recognised "the need to move away from a system that encourages rote learning in a step towards a system that fosters critical thinking".
(DW/BMcc)
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11 September 2013
Ministers Congratulates Students Receiving Junior Cert Results
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD, congratulated the 59,823 young people and those returning to education who are receiving their Junior Certificate results today. This is the highest number of students to sit the exams in recent years and is an increase of 1.7% on last year's number.
Ministers Congratulates Students Receiving Junior Cert Results
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD, congratulated the 59,823 young people and those returning to education who are receiving their Junior Certificate results today. This is the highest number of students to sit the exams in recent years and is an increase of 1.7% on last year's number.
14 September 2011
Junior Cert Results Published
Over 50,000 anxious students will open their Junior Certificate results today. More than half a million individual grades in 26 different subjects have been delivered to secondary schools nationwide. It is understood that 15 high achievers have received 12 A grades while 115 secured 11 As and 269 were awarded 10 As.
Junior Cert Results Published
Over 50,000 anxious students will open their Junior Certificate results today. More than half a million individual grades in 26 different subjects have been delivered to secondary schools nationwide. It is understood that 15 high achievers have received 12 A grades while 115 secured 11 As and 269 were awarded 10 As.
04 November 2013
Report Uncovers Irish, Maths Teaching Issues
A new report on education in Ireland has uncovered problems surrounding the teaching of Irish and mathematics. The Chief Inspector's Report 2010-12 found students' learning to be less than satisfactory in almost a quarter (24%) of Irish lessons in primary schools and almost a third (32%) of Irish lessons in post-primary schools.
Report Uncovers Irish, Maths Teaching Issues
A new report on education in Ireland has uncovered problems surrounding the teaching of Irish and mathematics. The Chief Inspector's Report 2010-12 found students' learning to be less than satisfactory in almost a quarter (24%) of Irish lessons in primary schools and almost a third (32%) of Irish lessons in post-primary schools.
26 October 2009
Teachers' Qualifications 'Don't Add Up'
A parliamentary question by a member of the opposition has revealed that over a third of Maths teachers in Irish Secondary schools are not qualified in the subject. Fine Gael's Brian Hayes accused the Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe of being "asleep at the wheel" on the issue, after putting the question to him under the Freedom of Information act.
Teachers' Qualifications 'Don't Add Up'
A parliamentary question by a member of the opposition has revealed that over a third of Maths teachers in Irish Secondary schools are not qualified in the subject. Fine Gael's Brian Hayes accused the Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe of being "asleep at the wheel" on the issue, after putting the question to him under the Freedom of Information act.
30 November 2012
Disappointing Performance From Irish Students On PISA Maths Test
As part of PISA 2012 in Ireland, a nationally representative sample of mathematics teachers took part in a survey in March 2012. A report on the survey was published today by the Educational Research Centre (ERC), St Patrick's College, Drumcondra.
Disappointing Performance From Irish Students On PISA Maths Test
As part of PISA 2012 in Ireland, a nationally representative sample of mathematics teachers took part in a survey in March 2012. A report on the survey was published today by the Educational Research Centre (ERC), St Patrick's College, Drumcondra.
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