Results 3,561-3,580 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Special Educational Needs. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 20 and 90 together. Since 8 April 2003 the State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. The statistical issues raised by the Deputies have been forwarded to the commission for direct reply. The commission operates a scheme of reasonable accommodations for candidates with special...
- Special Educational Needs. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: One of the key recommendations by the expert group on the certificate exams which reported in 1989 with regard to reasonable accommodations was that it should be noted on certificates or results if an element or elements of an examination have been omitted, or the method of examining has been altered in a substantial way. The idea was to strike a correct balance between ensuring that...
- Special Educational Needs. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: This matter relates to ensuring the integrity of the exam and the exam results. I have yet to meet an employer who actually sought to see anyone's exam certificate. A student may have been unable to complete a full section of an exam. He or she for example might not have been able to do the aural or oral section. It would then be indicated on the certificate that such a student was marked out...
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: The most recent data on class size available to my Department show that in the 2004-05 school year 72,581 pupils were taught in classes of more than 30 pupils. This is less than half the number of children who were in classes of 30 plus when this Government took up office. Major improvements in school staffing have been made in recent years with the hiring of more than 4,500 additional...
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: The only way to ensure that schools due to gain a teacher next year gain that teacher now would be by ensuring that schools which are due to lose a teacher next year would lose that teacher now. This is a result of the panel system, whereby schools must take their staff from the panel. That would not be fair either. The current system is probably a good way of dealing with this, as long as...
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: It was the year I was elected.
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: The word "noble" is being bandied about by the Opposition. Something that is noble is something that is worthwhile and worth achieving.
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: We all aspire to something that is noble. To hold the office of Minister for Education and Science is a noble aspiration for many Members and some of us, fortunately, have managed to achieve it. Noble aspirations, therefore, are achieved and I am confident they will be achieved in the future. It is interesting to note with regard to class size in OECD reports that outcomes in other countries...
- Educational Disadvantage. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: DEIS â delivering equality of opportunity in schools â the new action plan for educational inclusion, which I launched last May, aims to ensure that the educational needs of children and young people from disadvantaged communities are prioritised and effectively addressed. The plan provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated school...
- Educational Disadvantage. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: I do not accept that schools have lost under the model for the allocation of teachers for special needs. For the first time, there is a permanent allocation for every school in the country.
- Educational Disadvantage. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: In the past, these resources were allocated on an ad hoc rather than a permanent basis. Now they are permanent. On the question of schools which are deemed to be disadvantaged under this system, the allocation is one to 80 for the most disadvantaged schools. This would change immediately for those schools once the survey has been completed, which is anticipated to be by the end of this year....
- Educational Disadvantage. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: Educational disadvantage is the issue. Some counties are the first to declare their economic or social disadvantage but it is often the case that students from these counties show participation rates in third level education that are among the highest in the country. I cite County Leitrim to prove my point. It has the highest rate of participation in third level education in the country yet...
- School Discipline. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 54 together. The task force on student behaviour will complete a final report, including recommendations, later this year. At the interim report stage, the task force decided to document the broad areas emerging and which have recurred with such frequency within its work to date and which in its opinion are representative of the central issues of...
- School Discipline. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: The great advantage of this report is that it has examined both the negative and the positive evidence in schools showing the manner in which schools manage disruptive behaviour. There are some excellent examples of good practice. I expect the final report will focus on issues such as school culture, the code of behaviour, the means by which students are given a voice, the sense of community...
- School Discipline. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: Schools have indicated to me that they have a problem with section 29. However, it should be noted that of all the appeals lodged under section 29, two thirds are resolved in favour of the school and only one third in favour of the students. Schools seem to have the idea that the appeals system is always against them but in reality, that is not the case. I have already indicated that I would...
- Physical Education Facilities. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: Ba mhaith liom a dhearbhú don Teachta go bhfuil gealltanas tugtha ag an Roinn ciste a sholáthar do PE agus do limistéir shúgartha lasmuigh agus do limistéir ilghnó i scoileanna mar chuid den chlár um infheistÃocht chaipitil do scoileanna. Tá an gealltanas seo dá thabhairt i gcomhthéacs acmhainnà a bheith ar fáil chuige agus i gcomhthéacs na gcritéar a foilsÃodh maidir leis na...
- Physical Education Facilities. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: Mar is eol don Teachta, bhuail mé le grúpa ón scoil, agus tá seanaithne agus ardmheas agam ar an bprÃomhoide, ós rud é go rabhamar sa choláiste agus ag dÃospóireacht chraobh na hÃireann le chéile. Ba bhreá liom bronntanas breá a thabhairt do gach aon scoil in Ãirinn, agus go háirithe do scoil mar sin. In ainneoin go bhfuil â¬500 milliún á chaitheamh agam ar fhoirgnimh i...
- Special Educational Needs. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: Enormous progress has been made in recent years in increasing the number of teachers in our schools who are specifically dedicated to providing education for children with special educational needs. At primary level there are now approximately 5,000 teachers in our schools working directly with children with special needs, including those requiring learning support. This compares to under...
- Special Educational Needs. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: I accept that when we put so many extra teachers in place this summer the system took some time to settle down. I thank the schools for their co-operation and the INTO for its help in implementing this process which has now settled down and is working quite well. I also believe the new circular which was circulated to all schools and which will be sent to all teachers is very helpful because...
- Special Educational Needs. (11 Oct 2005)
Mary Hanafin: The position is that special needs assistants are provided for children with severe medical or physical needs. I am aware it is the aspiration of most parents that their child should not be dependant on an assistant but should have the skills to be independent in the classroom and to be able to deal with other children. The Down's Syndrome Association said it recognises that every child with...