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11/03/2014
Minister for Education Urged To 'Back Away' From Devisive Reform
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has been urged to back away from abolishing all independent assessment at junior cycle level.
Making the plea Fianna Fáil accused the minister of jeopardising positive reform of the Junior Certificate by allowing an unnecessary dispute to develop with teachers.
The party's education spokesperson Charlie McConalogue described Minister Quinn's approach the Junior Cert reform as "ham-fisted" and that it had created "unnecessary conflict with teachers."
Mr McConalogue said: "His failure to properly consult teachers, his failure to provide adequate teacher training, and his decision to ignore expert advice has left teachers feeling they have no option but to stage protests at schools around the country today. For any reform to be successful, teachers need to be on board."
Adding: "Teachers have justifiable concerns about the removal of all independent assessment at Junior Cycle level. I am fearful that this will lead to a dumbing down of the assessment process; it will be unfair on students who already have particular relationships with the teachers marking their papers; students will be far less prepared for the Leaving Cert; and overall educational outcomes will suffer.
(MH)
Making the plea Fianna Fáil accused the minister of jeopardising positive reform of the Junior Certificate by allowing an unnecessary dispute to develop with teachers.
The party's education spokesperson Charlie McConalogue described Minister Quinn's approach the Junior Cert reform as "ham-fisted" and that it had created "unnecessary conflict with teachers."
Mr McConalogue said: "His failure to properly consult teachers, his failure to provide adequate teacher training, and his decision to ignore expert advice has left teachers feeling they have no option but to stage protests at schools around the country today. For any reform to be successful, teachers need to be on board."
Adding: "Teachers have justifiable concerns about the removal of all independent assessment at Junior Cycle level. I am fearful that this will lead to a dumbing down of the assessment process; it will be unfair on students who already have particular relationships with the teachers marking their papers; students will be far less prepared for the Leaving Cert; and overall educational outcomes will suffer.
(MH)
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Sinn Féin Call For Education Reforms To Be Put On Hold
The Minister for Education has been urged to postpone further implementation of Junior Cycle reform until all outstanding issues are resolved with teachers.
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