Author: Emma O Kelly

Two deaf school students from Holy Family School for the Deaf in Cabra, Dublin, are advocating for Irish Sign Language (ISL) to be recognized as a Leaving Certificate exam subject. Ellie Woods and Shane Hamilton feel it is unjust that students can sit exams in a variety of EU languages but not in ISL, despite its official recognition in Ireland as a language. Shane, a native ISL speaker, emphasizes the importance of being able to take a Leaving Certificate exam in his first language. Both students believe that inclusion of ISL in the exam would not only provide fair opportunities…

Two deaf school students, Ellie Woods and Shane Hamilton, have taken their plea to the Department of Education, advocating for Irish Sign Language to be recognized as a Leaving Certificate exam subject. Despite ISL’s official language status in Ireland, students like Ellie and Shane are at a disadvantage as they cannot sit an exam in ISL. Ellie and Shane argue that other EU languages not taught in Irish schools are examinable, so why not ISL? They believe that being able to take a Leaving Certificate exam in ISL would provide deaf students with the same opportunities as their peers. Recognizing…

Third level students are facing significant challenges with the rising cost of living, according to a study conducted by UCC Students’ Union. The survey of over 3,000 students revealed that housing costs were the biggest source of pressure for more than half of the respondents. With 86% of renters experiencing rent increases and one in five students commuting over 10km daily, the affordability of housing is a major barrier for students pursuing higher education. Students reported skipping meals, struggling to pay unexpected bills, and facing negative impacts on their health and academic success due to financial constraints. A majority of…

The Union of Students in Ireland is advocating for equal treatment of young people fleeing the war in Palestine in terms of third-level fees, similar to those enjoyed by students from Ukraine. Minister for Further and Higher Education Patrick O’Donovan waived restrictions for Ukrainian students, allowing them to pay domestic fees instead of international fees, which can amount to €10,000 to €30,000 annually. USI President Chris Clifford emphasized the need for all students seeking refuge to receive financial support from the Government, highlighting the struggles faced by these individuals. While some colleges are providing individual support, a national policy for…

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science has recently released a paper outlining ways to reduce the financial burden of college for students. This paper, released in advance of the budget, discusses options such as reducing student fees, increasing grant supports, and cutting costs for student accommodation. Stakeholders, including students, access officers, and advocates, recently met to provide feedback for this paper. Suggestions included more support for graduate entry medicine students and changes to grant eligibility for holiday work income. The department highlighted the need to prioritize issues like student accommodation, transport costs, and support for…

The State of Education Investment in Ireland: A Call for Change Recent data from the OECD has revealed that Ireland is falling behind when it comes to investing in education. Ranking last out of 34 countries in terms of GDP allocated to education, Ireland only spends 2.8% compared to the OECD average of 5.7%. This lack of funding is having a detrimental impact on primary, secondary, and tertiary education across the country. Primary schools, in particular, are struggling to cover basic costs, with the General Secretary of the INTO calling for a 20% increase in day-to-day funding. The situation is…

St Vincent de Paul has reported a decrease in requests for support for back-to-school costs among families since the introduction of free schoolbooks for primary school pupils and Junior Cycle students. The charity saw a 6% drop in calls this year, following a 20% decrease last year. With free schoolbooks for Junior Cycle students introduced this year and the primary schoolbooks scheme in place since 2023, the SVP is now advocating for the initiative to extend to Senior Cycle next year. Niamh Dalziel, SVP Policy and Research Officer, emphasized the importance of this expansion, especially for families struggling with the…

Exciting news for students in Ireland! Starting in 2027, schools will be required to teach older teens about important topics like mental health, relationships, consent, and more. A new mandatory Social, Personal, and Health Education (SPHE) programme will be introduced for all students, with a focus on health, wellbeing, sexuality, and adulthood. This updated curriculum is a response to the need for better education on personal health issues, as currently only a small percentage of schools offer SPHE classes for older students. The new syllabus aims to provide 60 hours of teaching on these crucial topics, with a focus on…

The National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education (NABSME) has voiced concerns over the lack of therapeutic services provided to pupils in the country’s more than 140 Special Schools. Describing progress as “glacial”, General Secretary Eileen O’Rourke highlighted the detrimental impact of the absence of services like Speech and Language therapy on children’s development. While a Government pilot scheme offers in-school therapeutic supports to children in six schools, NABSME remains unsatisfied, calling the initiative inadequate. The system’s inadequacy, according to Ms. O’Rourke, has led to children in many special schools not receiving any therapeutic support, hindering their overall…

Primary school principals are raising their concerns about underfunding and the pressures they face in Irish schools. The Primary Principals Forum highlights that 60% of primary principals are required to teach in addition to their administrative duties, leading to burnout and job fatigue. They are calling for more funding to align Ireland with the OECD average, citing the need to cover rising costs and reduce reliance on parent fundraising. In a meeting at Leinster House, the forum also emphasized the need for increased administrative time for teaching principals and addressed issues with Special Education Needs supports, grant aid for school…