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You are here Home | Topics | Government
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September 28, 2005
Will tuck shops be banned?
I can accept that a good balanced diet assists learning, especially at primary and secondary school level, it would appear to make sense - although the actual evidence seems more anecdotal than scientific so far. But is it really necessary to introduce new legislation to force schools to apply that understanding to the food they supply to their students? and are NI schools really waiting until that legislation is introduced? August 30, 2005
Parents will have last word on Grammar schools
Newton Emerson compares the impending reform of the education system - ie the plan to abolish the eleven plus and move towards a comprehensive system - with the coercive integration of black and white children in Kentucky. The Catholic school system, which has already embraced the concept, may be the first victim, as parents move their children to non Catholic Grammar schools in pursuit of the best education on offer. [more] August 19, 2005
A-levels getting easier...
A YEAR from today, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a front page with the headline '100% success for all A-Level students'. Perhaps it's because the discredited exams are getting easier. Well aren't they? August 16, 2005
Baccalaureate to shake up 'flexible' A levels
It's always good to see someone taking policy issue seriously. A Yank in Ulster looks at a proposal by Estelle Morris in today's Guardian, not to abolish A Levels as such, but to introduce a common standard International Baccalaureate-style diploma to run alongside A Levels - and let the schools chose which one to run with. With some of the elite Universities pulling their corporate hair looking for a reliable marker for excellence - it may just catch on. It may also challenge those schools currently shopping around for the test company believed to give the best A-level scores. August 05, 2005
Xam Rslts by Txt
One thing summer in Northern Ireland always brings, if not the sun, is exam results. The Scottish Qualifications Authority is ditching ‘snail mail’ in favour of text to deliver results as part of a new pilot scheme being tested in the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland. Pupils will receive their results only after replying ‘Yes’ to a text from the SQA. Like most mobile services today, the SQA doesn’t manage to give exact details of how much the service will cost pupils. Chris Martin, of the SQA's information technology department, said: "At the end of the day, the experience of our pilot candidates will have a big say as to where we go next with this project." July 26, 2005
Education's long term fear of failure
Alex Kane picks up on a conversation that stopped locally when all ministers packed up their briefs and ambled off into a long hiatus in October 2002. However education is still a touchstone for important ideological divisions. According to Kane, what he see as the liberal tendency to dampen competition is running riot through the educational establishment. [more] June 16, 2005
Catholic church planning for drop in school numbers
According to Father John McManus the Catholic Church is preparing for amalgamations of its schools in some areas of Northern Ireland: "There is a projected 16% decline. In the Larne area, that is 23% and in the Moyle area it's 9% and in the Ballymena area it's about 5%. So it is against that background that this preferred option is being presented. This is the establishment of a new 11-18 voluntary school to meet the post-primary needs of all of the children in the Glens and east Antrim area." June 05, 2005
Court rules in favour of Autist Child
The Belfast Telegraph this evening carries a report by Deborah McAleese on a "landmark ruling against the South Eastern Education and Library Board." This strengthens the right of children with special needs to receive appropriate provision of services, and if refused to seek redress through the courts. Autistic boy wins 'landmark' case. [more] May 24, 2005
Report shows that education standards in NI slipping...
A report from the chief Inspector of Education and Training Inspectorate shows that there is an unacceptable gap between low and high achievers. Are NI youth being failed by the system??? [more] April 04, 2005
Lack of accountability in Education Boards?
Let's see now.. according to this BBC report, a NI March 22, 2005
Lords backs student top-up fees...
YET more bad news for students (or more probably, their parents), with the House of Lords backing 'top-up' fees for students in Northern Ireland. Lord Glentoran said: "Northern Ireland should have its own right and time to make its own decisions on top-up fees." [more] You don't get no education... ISN'T it ironic that our unaccountable Education Minister used St Patrick's Day to call for more funding for transport in London, at a time when he was forcing transport cuts upon children travelling to school in Northern Ireland? It's been an important day for our remote control ministers as Direct Misrule bites into the education budget in a big way. Massive funding cuts have forced local boards to drop 'less essential' services - school transport, building maintenance, music lessons, classroom assistants, English language education for children from outside NI, psychiatric assistance and less support for disabled children. Nine councillors who sit on education boards have already resigned, and Massereene College, which was the first school to win Clinton's President's Prize, in Antrim is now set to close. March 13, 2005
Rate your teacher
Now's the chance to exact revenge for any perceived deficiciencies in your primary and secondary education by anonymously rating those you probably hold most responsible - the teachers. I don't know where to start myself. December 01, 2004
attractions of this wee place... or little adventure?
study reveals that of masters students graduating from northern ireland's universities last year, almost 91% of those employed six months later were working in the province November 28, 2004
Henry
Henry McDonald offers his thoughts on events in the Holyland and some solutions Culchie clashing [more] November 26, 2004
Education: NI's over and underachievers
Malachi O'Doherty takes aim at Prince Charles's recent comments on education, noting the very particular circumstances of education in Northern Ireland, "Our grammar schools are top of the British league tables while a quarter of the population is functionally illiterate. The next rung below us on the literacy ladder is Poland". Meanwhile David Vance defended Charles. Dumbing Down. The Irish News today carries a story on page 9 Victorian entrance exam highlights ‘dumbing down’. [more] November 21, 2004
Education, Education, Education
Martin McGuinness will doubtless be pleased to see that his time as Minister for Education did no obvious harm to Northern Ireland’s education system. The Sunday Times reports that Ulster grammar schools are top of UK class according to their Parent Power guide. Lumen Christi College in Londonderry is Northern Ireland’s top secondary school. However the excellent status of our schools (“when compared to population, Northern Ireland grammar schools perform better than their equivalents in England and Wales”) may cause some to point out- in respect of proposed abolition of the 11 plus- if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! October 12, 2004
Local politicians are WIMPS...?
WIMPS (Where is my public servant?) is a new website designed for and by young people in Northern Ireland to encourage political participation. Slugger links to it first here. Possibly one way of dealing with the political apathy of many youngsters in Northern Ireland? [more] 'Vested interests' present obstacle to mixed education... FORMER Secretary of State Mo Mowlam has accused political parties and churches of having "vested interests" in holding back integrated education in Northern Ireland. [more] October 07, 2004
Bad report for students...
A FEW days ago I asked Suzanne Breen how she was coping with the new influx of students in South Belfast. She gives her answer today in the News Letter - and it's not a glowing report by any means. Update: Alex Maskey wants something done before the problem spreads. A South Belfast building moratorium? [more] Republican case for integrated education? Mick Hall judges that the problem of educational underachievement amongst some areas of Loyalist working class areas in Belfast would be best addressed by vigorously promoting integrated education. Though I doubt the influence of the Church of Ireland is as strong in NI as it is in the Republic. October 01, 2004
Dodds calls for help for Shankill schools
Diane Dodds, new DUP MLA for West Belfast, has called for direct rule minister Barry Gardiner to address the low performance of Shankill's schools, highlighted in a recent report from the Shankill Partnership. [more] US support for integrated education... IT'S a common reaction from Americans when they learn that 95 percent of pupils in Northern Ireland attend, to all intents and purposes, single-identity schools - sheer disbelief at the lack of integration. US Envoy Mitchell Reiss's strong support for integrated education echoes his predecessor Richard Haass's decision to put his own hand in his pocket to help out (last page) with a major donation. Barbara Stephenson, the recently-departed American Consul General, also made her support vocal for integrated education. September 15, 2004
Ulster pool closure goes to court...
It looks like the campaign to save the University pool at Jordanstown is making progress. As I type the case is being heard in the High Court in Belfast. Yesterday there was even an early motion in the House of Commons by Kate Hoey and so far supported by seventeen signatories, from UUP, DUP and the SDLP. SF MPs don't participate in the Westminster parliament. [more] |
Slugger O'Toole records news, commentary and diverse opinion on Northern Ireland. Produced by Mick Fealty News, tips or crits here: mick.fealty -at- gmail.com Topics a long peace?books Britain Conflict Culture Economy Education election 2003 Election 2005 Enviroment environment Europe Gaeilge Glossary Government Highlights Human Rights Humour International Manifesto Media Nationalism Negotiations Parties Policing Soapbox Society Sport the south unionism
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