What Ireland can learn from Finnish schools in tackling disinformation
The Nordic country is helping students learn about spotting false information. Is there space in the Irish curriculum to do the same?
Primary Level
News and advice covering the primary level education system.
Mother whose son attended school nine times this year says expecting him in bed before midnight is ridiculous, court hears
Tusla official says he received text from boy’s mother saying view child should go to bed before midnight ‘ridiculous’
Three teachers struck off register as complaints increase by 35%
A total of 45 complaints concerned conduct or behaviour including physical abuse or assault, verbal assault and sexual or intimate contact with a student
Storm Éowyn: Widespread damage anticipated as storm is expected to bring 130km/h gusts
Red weather warnings across Ireland see public warned to take shelter
Students were giddy at prospect of school being cancelled for Storm Éowyn - until the principal came on the intercom
Covid-era remote learning means schools are in a better position to cope with weather-related disruption
Paying travel costs may boost supply of substitute teachers to tackle classroom staff shortages, report finds
Insufficient cover across schools despite large number of substitutes, Department of Education study finds
Storm Éowyn: Schools, childcare and colleges to close on Friday due to red weather alert
Ireland weather: Automatic closure of education facilities triggered by Met Éireann status red warning
‘We’re not going back to a world before AI’: how technology is changing the classroom
Teachers are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence – and navigating its pitfalls – with the help of new courses
‘It’s kind of become our daughter’s cheat meal’: The view on new hot school meals programme
The scheme now covers nearly 2,200 schools, and 345,000 children, but some parents and teachers have concerns about nutritional standards
Plan to introduce foreign languages at primary level could ‘divert time from Irish’
New curriculum for primary schools draws contrasting reactions from teachers, parents and other stakeholders
Gender identity not included in draft primary school curriculum
Body finalising shake-up to curriculum says topic not referenced in new syllabus despite ‘misinformation’
Tension between teachers and special-needs assistants flagged in official report
SNAs' ‘over-familiarith’ with students’ parents can result in sensitive information being shared, say school leaders
Hot school meals scheme: ‘We are institutionalising consumption of ultra-processed food in our children’
Q&A with food analyst Ruth Hegarty: ‘There is a nutrition standard for hot school meals provided by the Government, but there is no oversight of this’
Breakfast clubs in Deis primary schools: ‘If it wasn’t here and you’d had no breakfast you’d be on the yard hungry’
Calls increasing for expansion of breakfast clubs to all Deis primary schools amid rising deprivation
School attendance among pupils drops significantly since Covid-19 pandemic
About 42% of primary pupils in disadvantaged areas are missing more than 20 days of school, an increase linked to the Covid-19 pandemic
‘My son was found by a psychologist to be twice exceptional, but we are in a battle to motivate him’
Ask the Expert: He was found by a psychologist to be ‘twice exceptional’ (has exceptional ability but also a disability)
‘I woke up one morning to 2,000 comments. I’ve had death threats’: How schools deal with social media fallout
Online hatred and toxicity can be hugely damaging, but are digital literacy classes really enough to tackle it?
Anti-choking devices donated to hundreds of schools despite HSE advising against use
Meals provider Lunch Bag is donating LifeVac devices to schools despite HSE advice that anti-choking devices should not be used due to lack of research on efficacy
Boys will be boys: why gender attitudes of today’s schoolchildren are remarkably traditional
Pupils associate being a ‘good’ girl with niceness and politeness, while ‘good’ boys are strong and excel at football
Our boys are outperforming girls in maths and science at second level. Why?
New global study on maths and science performance reveals strengths and weaknesses in Irish education
Pupils in Ireland among top maths performers in Europe, global study finds
East Asian countries such as Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea continue to dominate
Crises, reforms and funding challenges: six key issues facing the next minster for education
The manifestos of the main political parties put an emphasis on boosting funding for the sector, but what will the new government be able to deliver?
‘Parents were apprehensive’: the school where ‘risky’ play is on the timetable
Some teachers believe climbing trees and other outdoor self-directed controlled risk-taking are crucial for fostering self-confidence and resilience
Autism: Why are so many children being diagnosed these days?
As many as one in 20 schoolchildren in Ireland may have autism or similar developmental issues, studies suggest
Sharp increase in autism diagnoses to require thousands of additional special needs places in schools
Official estimates point to a near doubling in proportion of children with autism in need of support at school within five years
The principal can’t sleep for worrying. If she paid all the bills on her desk, she couldn’t open the school
The top five costs for schools have nothing to do with education but just keeping the buildings heated, lighted, clean, safe and insured. And they’re increasingly unsustainable
Learning outcomes slide for Irish pupils, report finds
Education levels have stagnated or slowly declined across much of the world, says Unesco
Our Government aspires to boost education through Irish - yet student numbers have fallen for the first time in 50 years
Parents should have a right to choose Irish-medium education for their children - otherwise, the status quo will never change sufficiently to meet demand
Dozens of pupils unable to secure school places using grant for nine hours’ tuition at home
Enrolment pressure at second level most acute in Greater Dublin Area
Teacher supply crisis: ‘There are times when we’ve had no applications for vacant positions’
Recruitment challenges mean vulnerable children can end up without vital support, says principal Conor McCarthy
Thousands of children left with unqualified teachers amid staffing ‘crisis’
Primary school leaders say difficulties filling staff vacancies is having a ‘profound’ impact on the quality of education
Concern over ‘competence and confidence’ of some teachers in all-Irish schools
Minister for Education urged to ‘urgently’ release draft of long-awaited policy on Irish language education
‘It’s common knowledge teachers lie about their faith’: Is religion a barrier to getting a job as a primary teacher?
Critics say a requirement to hold a religious certificate in most national schools means many new teachers have to uphold something they don’t believe
‘Chicken curry is very popular’: What to expect on school menus as free scheme is extended
Free hot school meals programme to include all 3,000-plus primary schools from next year
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