Results 1,921-1,940 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: It has yet to be decided how that will happen but the project work, whether it is research or practical work, will be assessed by the teacher.

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: We will be looking at those on a case-by-case basis.

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Nobody wants students back in the classroom more than me. One of the things we found out in the time since 12 March is that while online platforms work and are helpful, we are missing-----

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: That will be subject to public health guidelines and, at the moment, the public health guidelines are that schools open in September.

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I do not agree with that assessment because there are many advocacy groups that work on behalf of these students. They have been very active and engaged with our Department. In fact, last week, when I met the children's ombudsman, he raised the issues of disadvantage, digital inequity and special needs. A lot of work is going on in that regard and we have a group in the Department looking...

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I thank both Deputies. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked about mature students. They will be treated in the same manner as every other student in terms of data, regardless of whether they are outside school. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae gave the example of music tuition. If someone is getting tuition outside the school setting, data and information from the tutor will be critical in assessing that...

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the issue of equal pay for teachers was the subject of significant conversations prior to the election and the pandemic. Anything relating to the issue will form part of the next pay talks. The Deputy referred to indecision. To explain, once we postponed the exams to 29 July, I instructed my officials to look at the calculated grades model. I had reservations...

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy asked why the exams were cancelled. They were not cancelled; they were postponed to a date on which it will be safe to do them. We are pursuing the calculated grades system. The Deputy is correct in saying that it was not only public health advice that informed what the leaving certificate would look like. The student voice was quite instrumental and very significant. I...

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: We are working on the issue of fifth years.

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I hope I understood the question correctly. To be clear, the State Examinations Commission will have nothing to do with this process. Our legal advice states it cannot have anything to do with it, so that is the reason we are setting up the new group. There are two major stages; the first of which is the school-based stage involving teachers and their teaching colleagues. For example,...

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The answer is "Yes". We have a continuity-of-learning section set up in the Department and we have been working on those issues for a number of weeks. We are looking now at continuity not just for this term but as some Members stated, for the transition for fifth-year students, and seeing where there are gaps for young people with disadvantage as well. We have a specific section working on...

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: If we get a new Government formed any time soon, there will be an education committee. The standardised system that we will look to bring in has not been finalised because we are going through the consultation, but it will be there shortly. The leaving certificate system is going into its 95th year. I know the Deputy spent most of his speech talking about its merits and demerits.

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Give me ten seconds.

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: No matter what school they are in, every single student will be measured on their performance over two years. The teachers and the whole school community will have that evidence from the two years. That is what we are working on. I take on the Deputy's concerns.

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I thank Deputy Gannon. He has been very constructively in this process. He highlighted the digital inequities. I know other people did, but the Deputy kept in touch with me and raised it. I thank him for that.

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: -----and the Deputy is sending the message out today that they will be disadvantaged because they are in a disadvantaged school.

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: That is a disgrace.

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Deputy Ó Ríordáin had his time. The Deputy had eight minutes. I have 20 seconds left. It is a disgrace. I can assure the Deputy I will not get into a row with him. The Deputy can call me.

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy can call me and I can sit down with him and talk about this.

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I will not allow-----