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Thursday 1 June 2023 Dublin: 16°C

# Department of Education

Yesterday
31st May 2023
# Education
Education Minister says parents and guardians ‘cannot be compelled to pay voluntary charge’
Norma Foley called on principals to contact her department if their school was struggling to pay certain costs.
Last week
21st May 2023 - 27th May 2023
# Corofin
Clare local allegedly assaulted at protest as minister hits out at online 'misinformation'
The man in his 70s is now out of hospital.
Last month
May 2023
# scammers
Fraudsters impersonating gardaí target schools with scam emails
Some scammers have even sent fraudulent emails in Irish.
This year
2023
# Autism
Call for families to take part in first national study on autistic children's school experiences
The project aims to improve educational policy and practices for autistic children across Ireland.
# Douglas Rochestown
Primary school pupils made to 'illegally cross three lanes of traffic' to get to Cork school
‘You cannot drive, cycle or walk this route either safely or illegally,’ said one parent.
# Ukraine
Number of Ukrainian students enrolled in Irish schools has almost doubled since May
Schools in Dublin, Kerry and Cork have enrolled the most students.
Last year
2022
# the High Court
Jailed teacher Enoch Burke to be released from prison despite not purging contempt
In his ruling, Mr Justice O’Moore said ‘it was difficult to avoid the conclusion that Burke was exploiting his imprisonment for his own ends’.
# teacher shortages
Career breaks for teachers may be suspended in response to staff shortages
Schools have come under pressure due to unfilled job vacancies and teacher shortages.
# holy land
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Are religious property proceeds going to redress?
Noteworthy’s Maria Delaney tells Susan Daly about how over €90 million worth of properties were sold.
THE MORNING LEAD
Religious orders involved in redress sold properties totalling €90 million since 2016
A report by
Maria Delaney
Investigation by Noteworthy finds these congregations paid €27m to the State in redress during this time.
Investigation by Noteworthy finds these congregations paid €27m to the State in redress during this time
70% - or just under €250m - of redress for institutional child abuse now paid by congregations
Mother and baby institution survivor: "I have no expectations... It’s cold, hard business."
# Cost of Living
'We've no way to buy cheaper uniforms': Parents facing price hikes ahead of new school term
Poverty campaigners and parents’ groups fear that back-to-school costs will be compounded this year by the cost-of-living crisis.
Poverty campaigners and parents’ groups frequently highlight the cost of going back to school every summer.
There are growing fears that the cost-of-living crisis will place an additional burden on parents, Emer Moreau writes.
# War in Ukraine
Nearly 7,000 Ukrainian students enrolled in Irish schools
Nearly 1,000 children and teens have enrolled in schools here since mid May.
# Ukraine
Nearly 6,000 Ukrainian children and teens enrolled in Irish schools
The Department will continue to publish figures on the enrolment of Ukrainian children each month.
# Storm eunice
Schools, colleges and childcare services in nine counties to close tomorrow due to storm warnings
Schools in Clare, Cork, Kerry, Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Waterford and Roscommon will be closed.
# leaving cert 2022
Over two-thirds of students want hybrid Leaving Cert this year
There were over 40,900 responses to the survey by the ISSU, with one in three Leaving Cert students responding to the poll.
# re-opening
INTO clarifies that teachers won't automatically be given medical-grade face masks for classrooms
Teachers will have to request the masks from their school’s board of management to obtain them.
All time
# education report
Apprenticeships and post-grad studies are on the rise according to a new education report
The number of teachers at primary and post-primary level went up from 61,942 in 2016 to 69,343 in 2020.
# schools closed
Storm Barra: All schools and colleges in counties under Red and Orange warnings to close tomorrow
Schools, colleges and universities across 12 counties are being told not to open tomorrow because of the approaching storm.
# substitute teachers
Emergency measures to tackle teacher shortages 'perpetuating unequal pay', say teaching unions
Emergency measures include an increased involvement of student teachers and retired teachers.
# antigen tests
INTO calls for 'political leadership' on bringing in antigen tests to primary schools
“Time is of the essence and we simply can’t afford any additional delays,” said INTO General Secretary John Boyle
# Music Generation
Public funding for U2-backed music programme to be reviewed
The Music Generation programme teaches children how to perform and play musical instruments.
# Tough Start
Home by 10am: 'Misuse' of reduced school days leaving a generation of Traveller children 'lost'
Noteworthy and The Journal can reveal that many Traveller children are routinely put on ‘reduced hours’ at school – with at least one student on just 40 minutes a day.
Noteworthy and The Journal can reveal that many Traveller children are routinely put on 'reduced hours' at school - with at least one student on just 40 minutes a day
Reporters Maria Delaney and Michelle Hennessy work with Traveller focus groups to expose this issue
Over 60 children on one halting site in Munster received no digital supports during Covid lockdowns
Tough Start Live: How can the cycle of disadvantage be stopped for Traveller children?
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Why are the school days of Traveller children being reduced?
# Pay and Conditions
School secretaries to strike outside Department of Public Expenditure over lack of better pay offers
Fórsa has said that civil servants have claimed the Tánaiste’s commitment to standard pay does not change WRC talks.
# Rathmines
'The sooner it's boarded up the better': Official wanted door to be blocked to stop homeless person 'moving in'
The doorway was covered with wooden hoardings in late May, prompting an outcry on social media.
An official wrote the email before the doorway at the Rathmines college was covered with wooden hoardings in late May, Cónal Thomas reports.
The boarding up of the location prompted an outcry on social media because the location had been frequented by a man who slept rough.
Official statements at the time suggested that the doorway was boarded up to facilitate Leaving Certificate exams in June.
# school dinners
School meals programme to be extended this summer due to impact of Covid-19 pandemic
The funding is normally not available during the summer.
# Rathmines
Hoardings were put up where homeless man was known to sleep to 'prepare building for Leaving Cert'
The man has since been contacted by homeless services.
# Courts
High Court challenge begins against direction to readmit expelled student with special needs
The pupil, who has special needs and cannot be identified by order of the court, was expelled in September from a Co Meath school.
# State Exams
Leaving Cert 2021: Survey and emails from 'stressed' students presented to State exam Advisory Group
A survey found that most Leaving Cert students wanted a choice between Calculated Grades or in-person exams.
# Department of Education
Doubt over Thursday re-opening for special education classes amid 'make or break' talks
A webinar for teachers was held yesterday where “vitriolic” comments were left about public health experts’ assertion that schools are safe.
# Special Education
At-risk SNAs and childcare among final obstacles in resuming special-education classes
Minister Norma Foley said classes for children with special needs would reopen next Thursday.
# Education
Number of sixth year students studying a foreign language falls as STEM gender gap persists
A report has found that “strong differences can be seen in the percentages of girls and boys when it comes to STEM, particularly when biology is excluded”.
# Calculated Grades
Dept of Education officials say it was 'impossible' to get staff to check Leaving Cert algorithm
Dalton Tattan, assistant secretary at the Department of Education said the pressure they were under was ‘extreme’.
# Sanitisers
Schools told to stop using more than 50 sanitising products following government review
The Department of Education has told schools that they will be provided with funding to obtain new supplies.
# hand sanitiser
Schools being asked to check hand sanitiser supplier following recall of brand due to possible 'health concerns'
A product recall was issued tonight by the Department of Agriculture on ViraPro hand sanitiser.
# Schools
Parents sometimes feel 'coerced' into accepting reduced timetables for their children, committee hears
A Department of Education official said today the practice is to be “limited solely to those circumstances where it is absolutely necessary”.
# mid-term break
'No decision made' on extension to school mid-term break to curb virus
Government sources say the move is being considered as an option but no decision has been made.
# black lives matter
Government urged to drop novels with 'racial slurs' from Junior Cert syllabus in response to Black Lives Matter protests
Parents, pupils and teachers have called for an update the school curriculum.
# School Transport
Over 3,000 students turned down for school bus tickets, according to new figures
TD Mattie McGrath said that the ‘archaic’ system was facing a worrying backlog.
# Results Day
The Leaving Cert: When are the results due, and what can we expect?
Leaving Cert calculated grade results are due to be released tomorrow morning at 9am.
# Schools
'It's a huge risk': Pregnant teaching staff say they've been left in the dark over the return of schools
Many teachers complain they’ve received little guidance or assurances about how pregnant staff will be looked after.