Results 7,541-7,560 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Since 2003 the Leadership Development for Schools Programme (LDS) has expanded the range of supports and services that it offers to school leaders and over 8000 teachers from principals to middle managers have successfully completed LDS module programmes such as Misneach, Spreagagh, Forbairt, Tánáiste, Cumasú and Cothú. This investment has now led us to a point where there are structured...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Discussions in relation to the revised responsibilities of middle management in schools are taking place under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council which is the agreed forum for dealing with pay and conditions of service of teachers. The purpose of these discussions is to ensure that maximum benefit is derived from the management structure in schools to assist school authorities...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Work on the development of a Learner Database at Primary Level is continuing. A Feasibility Study has been undertaken in relation to the use of a single data portal or gateway to facilitate schools in relation to data transmission to my Department and a number of associated agencies. The results of this Study will be considered along with options for the development of a single Database to...

Written Answers — School Boards of Management: School Boards of Management (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In recognition of the responsibility which the Education Act has imposed on Boards of Management and the increasingly complex environment in which they must operate, the Teacher Education Section (TES) of my Department has developed a scheme for the provision of support to school management bodies for the purpose of training and development of boards of management in the discharge of their...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware the Programme for Government commits my Department provide a dedicated fund for investment in PE facilities for schools. I assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to promoting strong levels of exercise for our children and young people — both in their community and at school. Over €2.6 billion has been provided for school building infrastructure between...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools, all second-level schools should provide Physical Education as part of the curriculum. The programme that each school plans and delivers should be based on my Department's approved syllabuses and the teaching hours should be registered in the school timetable. The syllabuses have been developed on the basis of a time...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government is committed to promoting appropriate levels of exercise for our children and young people. New curricula for PE in primary schools and at Junior Cert level have also been put in place. Since 2000 my Department has provided in excess of €5.5m in grant-aid to primary schools to facilitate the provision of coaching or mentoring in connection with physical education or to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department makes a specific allocation of teaching posts in respect of guidance to schools in the post-primary system. This allocation is based on the pupil enrolment in September of the preceding school year. As a result of the decision to allocate an additional 100 posts to guidance from September 2005 an enhanced guidance allocation provision has been put in place from the commencement...

Written Answers — Road Safety Programme: Road Safety Programme (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: I believe that schools have a role to play both in teaching students about road safety issues and in helping them to develop the attitudes necessary to promote safe behaviour on the roads. The Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme, which is mandatory in primary schools and at junior cycle level, provides a framework under which the generic values and skills which underpin...

Written Answers — Child Abuse Prevention Programme: Child Abuse Prevention Programme (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Following the survey of all schools carried out some time ago to establish to what extent the Stay Safe programme was being implemented in schools my Department has been taking a targeted approach to the provision of training. Two additional primary school teachers were seconded to the Child Abuse Prevention Programme (CAPP) in September 2007 to assist with this training which is being...

Written Answers — Student Councils: Student Councils (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Section 27 of the Education Act 1998 provides that Boards of Management in second level schools shall facilitate and give all reasonable assistance to Student Councils. Student Councils are established in the majority of post-primary schools. It is important not only to ensure that each school has a Student Council which is representative of all students in the school but also that Councils...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The NCCA proposals for reform envisaged re-structuring of senior cycle programmes into subjects, short courses and Transition Units, a strengthening of practical project and portfolio assessment, a spread of assessment events with subjects having two assessment components, and embedding of key skills into subjects. In response, the then Minister Mary Hanafin. T.D. welcomed the embedding of...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposals of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment for reform of senior cycle envisaged a re-structuring of programmes into subjects, short courses and transition units. The Council proposed the development of Transition Units as 45 hour units of study which would provide a broad range of experiences for learners, incorporating innovative methodologies and supporting the...

Written Answers — Science Education: Science Education (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware the Programme for Government commits my Department to Ring-fence funding for science laboratories, improve science equipment in our schools, and ensure a greater focus on high quality science education at all levels. As part of the multi-annual school building programme, the Government has invested heavily in the modernisation of school facilities throughout the country...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Schools at both primary and second level use strategies such as curriculum differentiation, curriculum enrichment and acceleration to facilitate the development of pupils who are exceptionally able. Recently devised syllabi and curricula for second-level schools have been designed in such a way to enable teachers cater for the wide range of pupil ability. The revised primary curriculum, which...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: In February 2008 a letter issued to all second-level schools participating in the DEIS programme inviting them to participate in the Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP). 25 schools have been selected to join in 2008, which is in addition to the 28 schools which joined the JCSP programme in September 2007 on foot of a similar invitation issued in March 2007. Participation in the...

Written Answers — Youthreach Programme: Youthreach Programme (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Youthreach was established in 1988 to provide second chance education to unemployed early school leavers aged 15-20. It is designed to offer courses of integrated general education, vocational training and work experience. Towards 2016 set out to increase the number of Youthreach places by 1,000 by the end of 2009. In 2007, 400 additional places were allocated. Provision was made in the 2008...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: Both schemes to which the Deputy refers have been established and are running successfully. With regard to the summer courses in Irish for primary school children in designated disadvantaged schools, these are referred to as Campaí Samhraidh. Children's command of Irish is improved through participation in a range of activities, including music, arts and crafts and games, conducted through...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: The curriculum in schools is devised on the basis that ICT is not a subject but rather a tool to be integrated into the teaching and learning of all subjects. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has developed an ICT framework which sets out a structured approach to ICT in curriculum and assessment. This sets out the types of learning appropriate for students during the period...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (13 May 2008)

Batt O'Keeffe: DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and an integrated School Support Programme (SSP). As a result of the identification and review processes, 873 schools have been included in the new School Support Programme (SSP) under DEIS. These comprise 670 primary...