David Murphy: Don’t expect a giveaway Budget

How to address the widely acknowledged funding crisis at Third Level is, arguably, the most pressing education decision that will face the next government. A Government-commissioned report on how best to tackle the funding shortfall was finalised last week and has now been sent to the Department of Education. That study outlines several options, including the introduction of an income contingent loan scheme to cover third level fees, a kind of “study now, pay later” system. The report maps out …

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child will question a Government delegation on Ireland’s record regarding children’s rights on 14 January. Their agenda is a broad one and it includes the issue of school admissions and religion. Specifically, the UN wants to know what measures are being taken to ensure children are not denied a school place on religious grounds. It also wants to know about measures taken to ensure children have the right to opt-out of religious classes and/or …

Around 400 students and staff at the National College of Art and Design attended a meeting this week at which they were addressed by Director Declan McGonagle. The media was excluded from the meeting – a decision taken by college management – but afterwards it seemed from students and staff that the encounter had done little or nothing to address their concerns. Some students told RTÉ News that in fact it had made “a lot more people a lot more …

By Education Correspondent Emma O Kelly On Monday evening the teachers’ conferences begin and RTÉ News will be there, along with the rest of the country’s media, to report on the issues, the rows, and of course the minister’s address. How will he be received? Will teachers walk out? Will they applaud or will it be the silent treatment? Boy do the cameras love this. They lap it up.