Parents ready for war? April 2, 2011
Posted by Scandalcentral in Current Affairs, Local Politic's, Topical.Tags: Education, Primary School
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Parent’s across Ireland have begun protesting at the new Department of Education proposals to close or amalgamate many small primary schools across the country. The proposal is expected to save the Department substantial amounts of money each year.
Some parents however have begun protesting and contacting their public reps. This presents an interesting, new challenge for the new Government. For Cork it could mean closure for up to 47 schools. The smallest of which is Rathduane, Mallow which has just eight pupils and two teachers. Clearly a school with a four pupil to teacher ratio is insane and without doubt the department is correct in pursuing the immediate closure of the school.
Parents are protesting that this proposal will kill off rural Ireland. However I don’t agree. The proposal doesn’t intend to shut all rural schools, simply amalgamate situations where 2 or 3 small schools are located in one area. The cost savings in terms of electricity, labour costs etc will be enormous. Furthermore, teaching standards can only improve where teachers instead of teaching 4 or 5 different classes now teach children who are all at a similar level.
However it sadly is felt that this new, innovative approach will struggle to be successful due to the mass uproar expected in rural communities. In Ireland, some things never change!
Labour and Policy…. ?! October 17, 2010
Posted by Scandalcentral in Current Affairs.Tags: Education
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Labour have unveiled a remarkable policy recently, which is sure to get people talking. Yes, everyone will marvel at the thought of Labour actually revealing a policy, but that’s not going to be the main topic of conversation.
The red shirts have proposed to make P.E a leaving certificate subject. Yes, you did hear that correctly. The proposal naturally doesn’t offer much detail in terms of how one could examine this. It possibly could be in terms of laps but there may also be a ice skating aspect.
This policy from the lovely Mary Upton, is living proof that Labour are nothing more than a pack of walking leprechaun’s. Can anyone honestly see any benefit in offering 100 higher level points to PE? Can anyone even try to explain what ordinary level would be? Running half the required distance?
The fact that Labour have actually released a policy is startling. The fact that it’s rubbish, stupid and pointless isn’t surprising at all.
Better luck next time Mary.
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/labour-wants-pe-included-in-leaving-cert-curriculum-471915.html
Extra Points for Honours Maths?! September 27, 2010
Posted by Scandalcentral in Current Affairs.Tags: Education, Maths, Maths Reform, University
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The last few weeks have seen much debate over whether we should or shouldn’t offer Leaving Certificate students bonus or extra points for attempting higher level maths. I have watched this ongoing debate with much interest. It appears from the outset that individual universities are either totally opposed or very interested in this idea.
There is no doubt that the numbers attempting higher level maths is currently dismal to say the least. There is also little doubt that teaching is one of the key issues as to why so many are struggling with this key subject. Maths is required for many University and IT College’s for courses ranging from Finance to Civil Engineering. Failure to attempt honours maths leads to many students cutting off their opportunities at 3rd level. It’s also clear that it is no longer acceptable to have any one teaching maths at second level who has not at least done a joint honours in maths at university level. Many of our second level teachers have only minored in the subject in the past, which surely is unacceptable for such a core subject. The should also be further examinations into the quality of second level teaching, which varies greatly from school to school.
About a week ago, UCD’s academic council came out in support of the bonus points scheme. They now plan to offer bonus points for honours maths on a four-year trial basis. It came from internal opposition from the Students Union in UCD. Trinity and DCU have already given the green light to bonus points and University of Limerick has been offering bonus points for maths at higher level for years.
However UCC remains totally opposed to the idea. Both UCC’s academic council and president Michael Murphy remain totally against the plans to offer extra points for maths, and rightly so. Several key issues are being forgotten in this debate. Firstly, why should a student planning to study social science (These students are usually not overly numeric anyway) get extra points in maths when it isn’t required in their course? They shouldn’t is the answer. Perhaps yes, for students of engineering or science (or in courses where a higher standard of maths is required), then the idea is understandable or perhaps even needed, but a blanket bonus points system is illogical. Offering extra points for higher level maths for students who simply don’t need such a high standard is pointless. The argument can then be offered to offer extra points for Irish, as not many as also doing higher level Irish (Not that many complain about that issue)
UCC also made the point that as not all schools offer higher level maths then the idea is grossly unfair on students coming from feeder schools that don’t even offer the subject. Last year 79 schools didn’t even offer higher level maths to their students. Some didn’t even have sufficiently qualified teachers. UCC also queried the fact that nearly half the “maths” teachers in the country don’t have maths at major degree level. The academic council at NUI Galway has also come out against this idea. NUI Maynooth is yet to comment.
There has also been little discussion as to how this will affect the points race. Offering extra points for maths will automatically make it easier for numerical students to enter 3rd level and bias against perhaps more literate students. It should also be noted that as many students are not very numerical, it may just make their passage to 3rd level more stressful and force them to work harder just to get into perhaps a humanities course. There also has been little discussion as to what impact this will have on entry into medicine. For students that are once again strong at maths it will offer them perhaps an extra 40 or 5o points at A1 level, which will surely make it easier to get into medical courses. Is this right, fair or just?
Will extra points drastically increase the numbers doing higher level maths? I doubt it will have a gargantuan effect. It will prehaps assist the students who are already strong at maths. However this is nothing more than an easy option, where tough options are clearly required. It’s delightful to see that UCC and NUIG are not taking this lying down and are looking for solutions from outside the box. Perhaps a full second level review of teaching would be a better initial option. Especially considering the introduction of “project maths” which appears to be beyond many teachers and appears to dump down the course in ways which disappoints many universities. There is little doubt that we need students entering 3rd level who have a high standard of maths, however simply offering extra points without reform is just sweeping the problem under the carpet while pretending we have “a great” education system, which we simply do not.
3rd level: Who’s going to fund it? April 19, 2010
Posted by Scandalcentral in Current Affairs, FG, Student Affair's, Topical.Tags: 3rd level, 3rd Level Fee's, Education, Fees, FG, Fine Gael, Funding, LAB, Labour, U.C.C, University, YFG, Young Fine Gael
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Last weekend we saw the Labour conference, in which they brought 3rd level educational funding back on everyone’s minds. This is a hugely contentious issue for students and the industry at whole which is in a position of limbo at present.
Ruairí Quinn: “Fianna Fail wants to bring back undergraduate fees which Labour successfully abolished in 1995. We will not let that happen. The campaign of Labour Youth and the Union of Students in Ireland has been successful.”
Labour continue to plough on with the same policy they implemented in 1995. A policy which is in many respects not a policy at all. What I mean by this is that it has resulted in a massive underfunding of third level education. It has led to a scenario where the Government is almost expected to fully fund our 3rd level sector. This is the same Government which hasn’t two brass shillings to rub together and wont have for some time to come.
Over the weekend, Labour expressed the idea that the Government would under Labour continue to pick up the bill for 3rd level even suggesting they will increase it to fill the black hole in many of our universities.
” ..Increasing financial resources for third level education is an investment in all our futures, in our young people and in our economy.”
Once again the question must be asked as to where will this money come from? For if it will come from the exchequer, what will be cut instead to make room for this extra expenditure? Ruairí Quinn, naturally (and somewhat typical of Labour), failed to outline his budgetary plans on this. (In 2008 the Government paid € 1356 million to 3rd level institutions due to the current free fees policy. This is separate to the other funding given such as capital expenditure etc.)
Quinn did mention the idea unveiled by Fine Gael several weeks ago, about increasing the numbers of foreign students studying in this state to increase revenues. While this will increase income, a few points must be noted. Firstly, will university places increase to meet this new demand? If so, would this not increase costs? Hence a portion of this income would not be ‘profit’ for the industry. Secondly and conversely, if places are not increased this will result in probably less Irish students getting into 3rd level. This would be the students with the poorest academic results, which in a large proportion of cases is unfortunately Fchildrethose from low socio-economic backgrounds. Hence does this in itself not clash with the policy of free fees, which was to get rid of the ” barrier between third level education and those very students that we need to go to college.”
The question of funding therefore is not answered by this Labour plan, at least not in my mind. I also have some ideological issues with the current system. Over the last 15 years the richest in this state have got their nearest and dearest through 3rd level without paying anymore than the poorest or middle class in this society. Is that actually fair? Should a father, with an income of one million a year, not pay something to his child’s 3rd level education? More importantly, why should he get it for free? The state doesn’t give these people medical cards, so why should we give them a free ride through 3rd level? There are many in this country who are well able to pay for their children’s 3rd level education (and many who are willing!) and who already in many cases pay fees at second level. Yet this state, during one of worst fiscal crises we have ever witnessed, doesn’t require them to pay their way? Personally, I’m repulsed by this very fact. I believe, as do many Irish people I’m sure, that these people should pay. Now, don’t get me wrong, those from disadvantaged backgrounds etc should still and always be entitled to free 3rd level education. But the current situation and the situation which Labour wants to continue is ridiculous.
Many are aware that U.C.C recently introduced a conferring charge on students. This is an example of the failing of the current system. The Government clearly can’t afford to keep footing the bill, so they have shown the Universities the two fingers and told them to deal with it. U.C.C has decided to balance the books by charging the students. Do you really blame them, for how else would they easily get a couple hundred thousand? But once again, is this fair? However is it fair that students who were told the €1650 registration and capitation fee at the beginning of the year was it and then for U.C.C to turn around and give another bill to graduating students? U.C.C Young Fine Gael society along with the Student Union made a fuss about this which appears to have led to them rethinking the figure. The whole reality of the situation is that as long as the 3rd level system is underfunded, the students will be picking up the tab. This fee, along with U.C.C’s printing fees and other miscellaneous charges, must be paid by all students and students of all socio-economic backgrounds. Hence these famous financial barriers to education have not really been removed. Many of the other barriers have never been addressed properly. Namely, how to get those from disadvantaged area’s into 3rd level. We have had 15 years of “no fees” and yet the numbers entering 3rd level from certain parts of this state has no changed substantially at all. In many cases academic performance at 2nd level is a major issue. In many other cases, students have dropped out before their Leaving Certificate, meaning access for them is not a major uphill battle. Yet where is the headline grabbing by the political parties trying to solve this problem?
The Fine Gael “3rd way” document does deserve a mention as when one examines the future direction of 3rd level education, we should look at all opposition perspectives to be fair. The document claims that while 3rd level funding has increased over the last 10 years, it has not increased fast enough to keep pace with the explosion in numbers at 3rd level. The document contains so very needed idea’s including that college’s should be more transparent with its accounts so the taxpayer funding them know’s where their money is being spent. It also (Rightly) challenges 3rd level institutes to interact more with industry to find out what kind of graduates we need and in what area’s. As being fair, the state is spurning out thousands of art’s and humanities graduate’s- without a massive need and failing to fill the gap in the science and engineering area. But the key issue I’m interested in is the access one. It does address it. The document outlines how the grant for the poorest should be increased and how those students should be monitored to see if it’s really enough. It also proposes a huge expansion of the HEAR programme which allows those from poorer backgrounds enter 3rd level even if they don’t have the points but have the ability for the particular course. It also deals with issues at primary and second level for these students. The document also deals with funding. It outlines how it will abolish the registration fee. It maintains that the majority of funding will still come from the exchequer. The students will not have fees during college nor will they have the loan system, instead they will be required to pay a higher rate of PRSI for a number of years after graduation. The document claims this will raise 500 million a year. In many respects this is a positive idea. For up to now political parties have almost refused to even acknowledge the funding question. It raises some very important points about the flexibility of the payment of this and the fact that a student is paying just 30% of the total cost of the degree rather than all. Overall this is positive.
“Free fees” may get some college votes in an election, but it doesn’t address the chronic underfunding at 3rd level. It doesn’t address the access problem that still exists. It doesn’t provide a real, viable solution to a hugely important issue. I can only hope that the funding system for 3rd level is properly examined soon.
Reference links:
Third Way Document- Fine Gael:
http://www.finegael.org/upload/file/3rdway.pdf
Ruairí Quinn- Labour:
http://www.labour.ie/press/listing/12715003352941873.html
Note: I acknowledge not all political parties policies in this area were discussed here. I hope to deal with them in the future.
UCC President: What a joke! March 21, 2010
Posted by Scandalcentral in Current Affairs.Tags: Education, President, Reform, U.C.C
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For those of you that haven’t yet heard, todays Irish Independent has revealed to the world that U.C.C president, Dr. Micheal Murphy has spent a shocking 75,000€ on expenses. Not only is this above that of other University presidents but its on top of his 270,000€ salary a year! http://www.independent.ie/national-news/president-of-indebted-university-enjoying-the-high-life-2106272.html
This has to be one the biggest scandals ever. In the single worst recession Ireland has ever faced, we have a leader of one the country’s biggest universities spending money on extravagance that is really unimaginable. Nearly €7,000 on 1st class flights from Cork to New York? Does anyone else not think that this is extortionate? I mean that easily equals 4+ return flights at economy class. Why does Dr. Micheal feel that he requires 1st class anyway? It’s clearly not his money to be spending in the first place. The money that pays for this comes straight from either the Tax Payer or U.C.C students themselves. At a time when U.C.C lies in massive debt (Estimated to be 13 million) our president surely should be trying to cut every unnecessary cost possible. Instead he appears to be jetting in luxury across the globe!
Of course I firmly believe that trips to China are actually important for the university. It clearly results in the college getting foreign links and gaining reputation and what not, hence that is a vital part of the president’s job. But still the question exists, who has given this man the right to be splurging our money across the globe ?
What is really hilarious is the fact that it appears that certain private costs like baby-sitting have been paid by the president himself. How tough on the guy? How ever did he afford it? What we need is real reform of the public service in this country. A new government that will reform how things actually work. A government that will lower salaries from €270,000 to something far more respectable and create a system that doesn’t allow expenses to get out of hand. A system that monitors the actions of people like Dr. Micheal Murphy- a man who clearly has no morals in the current economic climate, at least in my opinion. Hopefully that system would also examine whether or not our president is worth value for money, for many do believe he is a waste of money and space in his current capacity.
I hope the students union in U.C.C will make some real noise about this and show our president that he is cut off from the real world. The fact that he is paid such a huge some of money is remarkable in itself! I mean how many students have ever seen him? Does he ever take a walk around campus? If he has, I wonder has he noticed that lack of places to eat healthy food? The poor opening hours in the Library? The poor state of some of the lecture rooms? Even, the real struggle facing lots of students just to stay in education? If this €75,000 had been given to the students it could have made a real impact. It could have helped several people I know to stay in college. It also could have possibly been used to reduce printing fees. It could have helped repair the floors in the W.G.B etc etc. There are hundreds of ways sum of this money could have made a real difference to U.C.C students. €600 dinners is not one of them.
The president should be ashamed to say the very very least!
3rd Level Fee’s…back on the radar….. again?! February 21, 2010
Posted by Scandalcentral in Student Affair's, Topical.Tags: College Affairs, Education, Fees, FF, FG, GP, Green, University
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It may seam like I’m giving the poor Green party a hammering this week. BUT, I was in absolute shock to wake up this morning to find once again the 9am news on the radio was informing about how 3rd level fee’s are once again being examined by the Minister. Did I miss something? Was it not only several months ago that the Greens demanded that fee’s not be reintroduced in order to stay in government?! Where are the Greens at all these days? As a political aside I think the public are going to get very sick of the seemingly weaker and weaker front to the Green Party. If the fee’s do go ahead, (As this morning appears so) John Gormley will have admitted that the Greens are nothing more then an extension of Fianna Fail.
The plan anyway, appears to be a graduate PRSI tax. Where have we heard that before? Yes thats it Fine Gael. Are Fianna Fail running out of policy that they are using that of their political rivals? I leave you depressed and contacting my bank manager.
