Education News | Primary, Secondary & Third Level | The Irish Time

Siofra Cox, a teacher at the Convent of Mercy in Roscommon, said the Leaving Cert music exams at both higher and ordinary levels were “very clear and straightforward”. Photograph: iStockphoto

Leaving Cert music: from uilleann pipes to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’

‘All compositions in major key so students had no opportunity to be melancholy’

Universities accused of ‘misleading’ Dáil committee over financial affairs

Senior officials from several colleges appeared before the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee to answer questions over unauthorised severance packages, conflicts of interest and poor corporate governance.

DIT president regrets not providing committee with ‘highly critical’ report of managment failures

Pupils do not want to be separated for religious education

Young pupils prefer learning about different religions together as a class. Photograph: iStock

Study recommends end to belief-specific teaching in Community National Schools

Leaving Cert: No surprises on Agricultural Science paper

Students were asked a question on comparing farm yard manure and slurry as part of Question 3. Photograph: iStockphoto/Getty Images

General consensus that higher level paper ‘was very straightforward’

Report criticises DIT’s lack of oversight on €30 million in spending

Professor Brian Norton, president, DIT: was directed by the DIT governing body to furnish the Public Accounts Committee with the EY report. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw

External report finds lack of management oversight and breaches in purchasing policy

Concerns raised over spending issues at DIT subsidiary

An Chéim was established as a subsidiary company of DIT to provide a range of IT services to institutes of technology. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

An Chéim’s board conducted ‘forensic analysis’ of services provided to tech company

DIT president ordered to show report on lost €700,000

Professor Brian Norton, president, DIT: a spokeswoman confirmed that he provided the PAC with the EY report in recent weeks. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw

TDs accuse college of misleading members over serious management failures

Leaving Cert Economics: Housing questions an ‘over-examination’

Current problem with housing and rental costs appeared on three questions. Photograph: Dara MacDónaill

Issues surrounding housing and rental costs appear on three questions in higher exam

Junior Cert music: Harmonious affair for most students

Vivaldi’s Spring (1st movement) featured as the set work in the listening section of Wednesday’s Junior Cert exam. Photograph: iStock

Vivaldi’s ‘Spring’ strikes the right note for most students on a hot summer’s day

Children should be able to attend local school ‘regardless of religion’

The draft legislation is aimed at making admissions to schools fairer and more transparent. Photograph: Istock

Oireachtas committee also recommends accessible alternatives to religious classes

Varadkar’s push for PE as Leaving Cert subject requires heavy-lifting

Plans to introduce physical education as a Leaving Cert subjects have been welcomed, but teachers say they raise more questions than answers. Photo: iStock

Analysis: Students would require equal access to standardised facilities for a start

2nd Level Dedicated site for secondary school students

Higher levels of education increase employability as well as salary. Photograph: iStockphoto/Getty Images

Postgraduate All you need to know about taking that step

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Education Features

Plans to introduce physical education as a Leaving Cert subjects have been welcomed, but teachers say they raise more questions than answers. Photo: iStock

Varadkar’s push for PE as Leaving Cert subject requires heavy-lifting

Sean O'Regan
June 21, 2017

Analysis: Students would require equal access to standardised facilities for a start

Aisling Devitt, from Celbridge, Co Kildare, is part of the first group of students enrolled in a batch of new financial services apprenticeships. Photograph: Jack Power

You're hired: how to become an apprentice

Jack Power
June 16, 2017

Major revamp of apprenticeship scheme provides a growing alternative to third level

Leo Varadkar on his way into talks with Fianna Fáil in 2016 on forming a government, at Trinity College in Dublin. Photograph: Alan Betson

Leo Varadkar becomes first ‘Trinity Taoiseach’

Carl O'Brien
June 15, 2017

Election marks a milestone in ‘normalising’ an institution once linked to Protestant elite

Employers’ group Ibec has repeatedly warned about a shortage of skilled language graduates. Photograph: iStock

Why is the quality of our multilingual graduates so poor?

Peter McGuire
June 14, 2017

The education system is struggling to meet the demand for skilled language graduates

Students Caitlin Mc Gee, Abbie Doyle, Chloe Clifford and Chloe Delaney from Caritas College, Ballyfermot, are sitting their childcare exam paper for the Leaving Cert Applied. Photograph: Cyril Byrne

Why is a valuable alternative to the Leaving Cert being neglected?

Roisin Guyett-Nicholson
June 13, 2017

Numbers completing the Leaving Cert Applied are falling due to stigma, say teachers

Project Maths reforms and bonus points mean record numbers are sitting higher level maths, but examiners say many struggle with basic skills. Photograph: iStock

Project maths: Do the reforms add up for students?

Peter McGuire
June 12, 2017

Records numbers are sitting higher level maths but many struggle with basic skills

ASTI president Ed Byrne has said the union will now ‘move inside the tent’ of the Lansdowne Road pay deal. Photograph: Cyril Byrne

ASTI leaders under pressure following strategy U-turn

Martin Wall
June 12, 2017

Calls for leadership figures to resign after members vote to suspend industrial action

A 2015 ESRI survey indicated that 23 per cent of parents want education through Irish for their children, but only a small minority are able to access it. Photo: iStock

Gaelscoileanna are not just a ‘middle-class’ option

Caoimhín Ó hEaghra
June 11, 2017

Opinion: More parents need to be able to access education through the Irish language

ASTI members at the union meeting in Citywest Hotel. Many members were angry with what they saw as a hard-line leadership focused on conflict rather than compromise. File photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times

ASTI brings end to futile campaign that divided union

Carl O'Brien
June 11, 2017

Analysis: Anger over new entrants’ pay may lead resumption in hostilities next autumn

‘Irish Times’ Leaving Cert diarist Ciara Kilbane. “The first day of the exams wasn’t too rough.” Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy

Exam diary: ‘I read up on wheat; there was a full question on cheese’

Ciara Kilbane
June 8, 2017

Ciara Kilbane on her first Leaving Cert day: home economics and English paper one

Working Abroad in Education

Teaching in Britain: Long hours, high stress, ‘immense pressure’

Ciara Kenny

Irish teachers report faster career progression abroad, but often at a cost

Examwatch

Students frequently indicated they could not recall information they had learned off for the Leaving Cert a mere two months later. File photograph: Getty Images

Leaving Cert by rote: Critical thinking seen as vital skill

Future generations should be assessed on ability to solve problems and think creatively

CAO Change of Mind What should you study at college? You have under two weeks left to decide...

Key CAO dates Next date: July 1st (5.15pm): Final date for any amendments to course choices

Stem Careers All you need to know about making it in the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics

The CAO points system is changing to try to take some of the heat out of the points race. By reducing the number of grading bands from 14 to eight, students may feel less inclined to chase marginal gains in the Leaving Cert.

New CAO points system Explainer: What students and parents need to know

$“I took the higher-level paper, and I wrote my essay on the biggest problems facing the world today. On an international level, that has to be the fractious state of the economy, and I do worry about it; in Ireland, homelessness is the biggest problem.” File photograph: Getty Images$

ExamWatch All the latest news, views and analysis on the 2017 Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert exams

Exam Survival Guide Brian Mooney's tips to help students and parents get the most out of the exams

ExamTimes The essential guide to Leaving Cert and Junior Cycle exam success

Advice: Brian Mooney

Higher levels of education increase employability as well as salary. Photograph: iStockphoto/Getty Images

Postgraduate Options The most common questions and answers for postgrads

Graduates must equip themselves with the necessary skills to fit in to the modern workplace, such as finding relevant experience Graduates must equip themselves with the necessary skills to fit in to the modern workplace, such as finding relevant experience

Graduates in Ireland 2017 Graduate programmes unlocking opportunities

Business Colleges Interested in studying a business degree programme?

Of the top 20 schools that send the majority of their students to higher-points courses, 16 are fee-paying private schools. Photograph: iStock

Feeder Schools In depth review of how many students Irish schools sent to college

Don’t have a clue what to do after the Leaving? Don’t panic, you don’t have to decide on the rest of your life, just what you will do for the next few years. Photograph: iStockphoto/Getty Images

College Choice Top tips on the CAO process and getting ready ahead of third level

The Student Hub Calling all students! Click here to claim your free Irish Times digital subscription!

2nd level Student Hub Dedicated site for secondary school students

CAO All you need to know about the CAO's second round offers

Student Hub The online resource for third-level students in Ireland

Graduate Options Moving up a level to master the job market?

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