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BellTIME
> > > FOREWORD
I am delighted to have been asked to
provide the foreword for this edition of
Bell Time magazine, an essential biannual publication for all second level
schools across Ireland. I hope that you
enjoy the host of interesting articles
included in this edition.
implementation reports and continuous
consultation with stakeholders will
remain central to the process.
Tackling educational disadvantage is a
key feature of the Action Plan for
Education. We are developing a new
ambitious Action Plan to tackle
As Minister for Education and Skills, I
Educational Disadvantage. The plan
am committed to making Ireland’s
which will be published by the end of
Education system the best in Europe by this year will pioneer new approaches
2026. I have recently published the
for delivering results to include
Action Plan for Education which sets
disadvantaged schools. We want to
out this ambition through hundreds of
make sure that students in these
actions which will be implemented over schools can achieve their potential and
the next three years. This is a realistic
stay in schools for longer. That is why
ambition as Ireland already has a top 5 we want the retention rate in DEIS
position in Europe in several important
schools to reach the national average
spheres but there are areas where we
within the next decade. We are also
have significant ground to make up in
targeting a five-fold increase in the
including achievement levels in Science reach of the Incredible Years teacher
and take up of gateway subjects.
programme.
The plan builds on the successful
model of the Action Plan for Jobs,
which I launched in 2012. At the start of
2017, and in each subsequent year, we
will publish an updated annual Action
Plan for Education which will contain
further actions to be implemented in
that year. Publication of quarterly
6
Our aim is to enrich teaching and
learning with new curricula, new
assessment methods and technology
assisted learning. I have recently
announced the introduction of coding
to primary schools from 2018, teaching
of computer science as a Leaving
Certificate subject and processes to
introduce teaching of new languages
such as Mandarin at second level.
I want to ensure that the voices of the
service users are made more central to
the education system by developing a
Parents and Learners Charter which will
require schools to consult with parents.
New measures will be put in place to
tackle school costs for parents, including
a requirement on schools to take into
consideration the needs of parents when
making decisions that have a financial
impact. Following consultation, I will be
issuing a strong new circular to schools
regarding uniform costs and other
school costs.
To be the best in Europe we need to
ensure that leadership, management,
quality frameworks, teaching methods
and initial and continuing training are all
operating to the highest standards. By
working together with all those who work
in and depend on our education system,
I am confident that we can deliver on this
ambition of being the best Education
and Training Service in Europe.
Richard Bruton TD
Minister for Education and Skills