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

Minister for Education Joe McHugh: said he did not want to be specific on how many hours history should receive. Photoraph: Gareth Chaney/Collins

McHugh softens stance on amount of time schools must study history

Minister for Education previously said history must be taught for same duration as English, maths and Irish

Making history mandatory will squeeze other subjects – principals

Minister for Education Joe McHugh has announced that history will be mandatory for all junior cycle students from next year onwards. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins

School leaders say Minister’s move will have an impact on junior cycle reform

Parents believe maths better liked than in the past, survey finds

Minister for Finance & Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe at a special budget briefing for Maths Week with Paul Giurgi, Ellie Smith, Patrick Miaskowski, and Sasha Butala from 6th class, St Peter’s National School, Phibsborough, Dublin. Photograph: John Ohle Photography

Maths Week survey finds half of adults use maths actively as part of their work

Traveller history to be ‘obligatory’ in schools if new Bill passed

Senator Colette Kelleher (C) says a Bill which would make Traveller history and culture part of the curriculum at primary and secondary school is a ‘milestone’ piece of legislation. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Minister expresses concerns over the draft legislation as Seanad votes to pass it

‘Ever-expanding workload’ turning teachers off becoming principals

Schools are struggling to attract applicants for the position of school principal due to growing workloads and responsibilities, according to the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals. Photograph: iStock

Schools struggling to attract applicants for vacant positions, representative group says

Children and parents in shock after Coolock school destroyed by fire

Aftermath of the fire at Scoil Chaitríona GNS, which is just off the Malahide Road in Coolock. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Six fire engines called to scene after blaze rips through building at about 6am in the morning

Leaving Cert ‘should have greater focus’ on work experience

Senior cycle education in secondary school could have a more rigorous vocational dimension, according to an OECD analysis.

Concern expressed over lack of ‘rigorous and attractive’ vocational segment in senior cycle

ASTI warns against senior cycle reform until Junior Cycle changes are evaluated

ASTI president Deirdre Mac Donald says additional work generated by Junior Cycle changes are just one of a range of new demands on teachers in recent years. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times

Teacher’s union says many teachers are ‘overwhelmed’ by recent changes

Planning on attending an open day? Do your homework first

Students should undertake basic research about the college and its courses prior to the open day. Photograph: iStock

Open days give you a great chance to gauge how good a fit your course and college choice will be

Open days at other educational institutions

Open days provide you with an opportunity to gauge the atmosphere, location and services of your potential place of learning.

No better way to weigh up your study options than by visiting the campuses and facilities

19 ways to make the most of a college open day

Information about a college course is invaluable, but there’s no way of knowing whether a particular college is the right fit for you unless you pay a visit to the campus.

Advice for students who are undecided on what course to take or college to apply for

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Education Features

A gender gap in educational attainment means boys get lower exam results than girls, are more likely to drop out, and are less likely to go to university than their female counterparts.

Boys don’t try? Why so many male students are falling behind at school

Larissa Nolan
October 15, 2019

Research says working class boys are falling behind because of a fear of failure. What can we do to solve it?

Portuguese navigator and explorer Ferdinand Magellan, a character encountered by history students: deep reforms of education require a compass. Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty

History ‘special status’ forces big reversal of Junior Cycle reform

Colm O'Connor
October 15, 2019

Curriculum contradictions must be resolved to instil clarity and cohesion

Photograph: iStock

My son wants to go to a Dutch university. I’m worried he’s too young.

Brian Mooney
October 15, 2019

Ask Brian: Courses abroad can pose a major challenge for ‘spoon-fed’ students

In primary schools, 12 per cent of pupils are absent for 20 days or more over the school year. This rises to 15 per cent at second level. Photograph: iStock

Absentee kids: the problem of poor attendance at school

Michelle McBride
October 8, 2019

Thousands of parents will be referred to social services this year for school absenteeism, and some will face fines or jail. Can more be done to keep kids in class?

A healthy community consists of members who have enough emotional peripheral vision never to lose sight of each other.

The Secret Teacher: Our obsession with wellbeing risks making it taboo to be okay

The Secret Teacher
October 8, 2019

People are becoming so greedy about their own wellbeing that they lose sight of what’s happening to others

There is a false public perception that all successful Dare applicants secure a reduction in CAO points requirements. Photo: iStock

My son is dyslexic. Does he qualify for reduced CAO points?

Brian Mooney
October 8, 2019

Ask Brian: Dare scheme assists college applicants with disabilities - but entry points depend on individual courses

Lucan Community College students Josh Murphy, Sam Doyle, Dana Sulaiman, Sheik Bah and Monica Matei.

State schools and religion: ‘We’re changing in the same way as society is’

Carl O'Brien
October 7, 2019

Lucan Community College no longer records pupils’ religion and has no faith-based events

A move to make history mandatory , say some at the coalface, threatens to undo much of the philosophy behind Junior Cycle reforms. Photo: iStock

Making history mandatory will be popular - but could damage Junior Cycle reforms

Carl O'Brien
October 1, 2019

Principals fear decision could hamper efforts to engage some of the hardest-to-reach pupils

Over the last decade, marked by an avalanche of new initiatives, our school leaders have been put under extreme pressure, says John Boyle, INTO general secretary. Photograph: iStock

You can’t deliver great schools without great school leaders

John Boyle
October 1, 2019

Budget 2020 is chance for Government to put supports in place for schools to thrive

Students at St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rush, Co Dublin, are taking part in a review of the senior cycle, including Kadem Price, Rachel Dillon and Senan Monks. Photograph: Alan Betson

Students speak up: How pupils’ voices are finally being listened to

Peter McGuire
October 1, 2019

Review may become model for how to put pupils at the centre of education policies

Working Abroad in Education

What is on offer for Irish teachers in New Zealand, and is it worth the move?

New Zealand wants Irish teachers, but what are they offering?

Peter McGuire

‘Irish teachers are highly sought and are most popular with our schools and students’

Open Days Open Days: Choosing your course? Do your homework first

“The graduate that comes out of college today or next year will probably have two or three different types of career during their working life.” Photograph: iStock

Graduate Options What kind of recruitment schemes do the major companies offer?

2019 Results and Offers Everything you need to know about the 2019 Leaving Certificate results, CAO offers, and other post-secondary options

ExamWatch The latest news, tips and advice on navigating the 2019 Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate exams

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The Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School is coming back to Dublin

The Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School is coming back to Dublin

This December, the Program on Negotiation Global course is returning to Ireland. The 2019 course will run on the 4th, 5th, and 6th of December at Castleknock Hotel, Dublin

Feeder Schools 2018 School-by-school data on how many students schools sent to college

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Advice: Brian Mooney

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Feeder Schools 2018 School-by-school data on how many students schools sent to college

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