Irish organisations back new second-level education initiative.
PRESS RELEASERepresentatives from Spunout.ie, Schooldays.ie, ISSU and the Digital Youth Council came together today to launch Student Slingshot Academy, a new approach to education and careers for transition year students -Student Slingshot Academy was launched today at its future home in Filmbase, Temple Bar.It is a new initiative developed to change how transition year students approach education and career prospects. Once a month, beginning on March 15th, some of Ireland’s leading third level students will work alongside industryprofessionals to create immersive and interactive sessions for transition year students. It has garnered support from some of the most prominent institutions for Irish second level students including Spunout.ie, Schooldays.ie, Irish Second-Level Students' Union and the Digital Youth Council
Oisin McKenna, Staff writer at Spunout.ie, stated:“Work, career and job-seeking are some of the key things that SpunOut.ie's readers search for on a daily basis on our site. It's great to be an information partner with Student Slingshot Academy in order to support young people's information needs around moving from second level to third level. It's a unique initiative that offers real life insight for students.”Fiona Farrell, head of Sales and Marketing for Schooldays.ie, stated: “At Schooldays.ie we provide an online resource for parents and teachers, we are delighted to support Student Slingshot Academy, an innovative forum for Transition Year students aged 15 to 17. It is a wonderful initiative by some of Ireland's undergraduates to provide the next generation with an insight into future career paths.”Rebecca Dempsey, Student Engagement and Development Officer for the IrishSecond-Level Students' Union, stated:"This is a fantastic and fresh initiative. We love how third level students will be able to share their experiences and knowledge with second-level students in a way that hasn't been seen before. We believe that Transition Year creates an opportunity and space for second-level students to learn and to be creative in their learning ways. The Student Slingshot Academy can add positively to this unique year of study. We encourage TY students nationwide to apply".Harry McCann, founder and director of the Digital Youth Council, stated: “I feel it is so important for students to take their futures into their own hands and not just wait for the education system to take them along. Students need to become more proactive, they need to go out and look at what is on offer to them and I feel Student Slingshot is the perfect opportunity for any student to start.”Patrick Guiney, founder of Student Slingshot, stated:“Just over 54,000 students sit the Leaving Certificate every single year. Of those 70% of them will be lucky enough to go onto 3rd level. Through a mentoring and support programme, led by some exceptional college students, we want to ensure that students pick the right course, earn a new skill and bring their focus back to what they want to do, not what the CAO dictates.”
The first Student Slingshot Academy takes place on Sunday, March 15th in Filmbase, located in Temple Bar. Transition Year Students will have the opportunity to learn from and meet college students from computerprogramming, medicine, law, journalism, finance, language and art, among further areas yet to be announced. A selection of industry professionals in these fields will support the students to develop new and inspiring sessions.Student Slingshot is a student-run organisation focused on maximising prospects for Ireland’s students. On November 18th, they held the first Student Slingshot event in Dublin Castle where 150 of Ireland’s best students met at Dublin Castle for an evening of networking, panel discussions and keynote speakers. The students from this event are those who will teach at Student Slingshot Academy.Further details can be found at:www.studentslingshot.comApplications for Transition Year Students close at 5pm on March 7th, 2015 Student Slingshot Academy is kindly supported by SAP, Enterprise Ireland and Eventbrite.ENDSContact: Sam Pearson, Tel.: 087 255 1148, sam@studentslingshot.com
CLOSING OF SCHOOLS MUST STOP
PRESS STATEMENTThe National Student Executive (NSE) of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) regretfully confirms again that second-level schools will be closed today (January 22nd) due to industrial action by the ASTI and TUI. This is the second day of industrial action to be taken in relation to the proposed Junior Certificate Reforms (JCSA) and with mock examinations due to take place shortly nationwide, this action will undoubtedly have an affect on students and their studies.Speaking this morning, Joanna Siewierska ISSU Education Officer, said;“I respect the teacher unions and their concerns in relation to the Junior Certificate reforms. However, as a Leaving Certificate student I am only ten days away from sitting my mock exams. This second day of strike action is disrupting mine and my fellow students’ education at a very crucial and important point in time. It is adding unnecessary confusion to the JCSA discussion and it is equally unfair to all students in second-level school. The closing of secondary schools needs to stop. Again, we respectfully ask teachers to return to talks with the Minister for Education and Skills”.Craig McHugh, ISSU President, added;"I am extremely disappointed that the striking teacher unions have failed to reach consensus on these reforms and that a second day of strike action is taking place. The JCSA reforms are focused on building a more relevant, fair, engaging and progressive second-level education system. Focus needs to return to the Junior Certificate Reform in its entirety and conversations need to happen between the relevant education stakeholders. Our education is being affected by this. This is not fair on students".***ENDS***Notes to editor:The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union has engaged with Junior Cycle reform discussions and consultations since 2011, and our stance on supporting this reform has been mandated by three annual assemblies, our internal advisory panels and nationwide student focus groups.Contact ISSU Main Office 01 443 4461 / communications@issu.ie
Vote at 16
PRESS STATEMENT
The National Student Executive of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) regrets the decision that has been made to disregard holding a referendum for the lowering of our voting age. Despite previous recommendations from the constitutional convention and Government promises made in 2013, a referendum on this matter will not take place in conjunction with the two referenda which are due to take place later this year.Speaking this afternoon, Craig McHugh (President) said;"This is extremely disappointing. We and other youth organisations have been preparing and working towards this referendum. There is a growing appetite among young people to influence real democracy and to contribute to shaping our country by voting at a younger age. Conversations and discussions need to take place on this matter. We cannot ignore what young people want from their country and this question should be put to the public for decision. We will continue to campaign on lowering the voting age to 16". ***ENDS***Contact:ISSU main office 01 443 4461
Students Locked Out
PRESS STATEMENT
The National Student Executive of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) regretfully confirms that second-level schools will close tomorrow (December 2nd) due to industrial action by the ASTI and TUI.The ISSU is very supportive of the proposed reforms to the Junior Cycle, and believes that this is in the best interest of the students.Speaking this evening, Craig Mc Hugh (President) said:“Teachers are using students as pawns in this industrial dispute, whilst students and their parents are ultimately powerless to the system. The new JCSA is good for students, and we want Teachers to re-enter talks with the Minister to ensure this does not escalate any further.Taking students away from their timetabled classes is creating a barrier for students as they prepare for their Junior and Leaving Certificate exams this upcoming summer. Furthermore, disruption on this scale impacts on all students as they prepare for Christmas exams. This strike is not conducive to progressive reform and meaningful discussions with the Department of Education and Skills.” ***ENDS***Notes to editor:The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union has engaged with Junior Cycle reform discussions and consultations since 2011, and our stance on supporting this reform has been mandated by three annual assemblies, our internal advisory panels and nationwide student focus groups.
STUDENTS SCAPEGOATED... again
Press Statement
ISSU speaks out in opposition to using students as pawns in industrial dispute
Teachers are often too slow to embrace significant change, and on this occasion they have brought reasonable talks to a deadlock due to a failure to adapt. Teachers correct hundreds of school-based assessments for individual subject exams or indeed for in-house Christmas and summer exams. We would recommend that the anonymity attached to exam numbers provided by the State Examinations Commission be maintained, and that teachers swap exam scripts within the same school to address concerns over bias. This change is needed and we need to move with it.Joanna Siewierska, ISSU Education Officer, said “We are lucky to have some of the most dedicated and committed teachers teaching us, but once again industrial action on this scale during school hours means that students are being used as pawns in what ultimately is an industrial dispute not solely concerning educational reform. My teachers correct my Christmas and summer exams during the school year and when it comes to the award of the new JCSA, why is correcting these papers any different? We respectably ask teachers to refrain from industrial action in this manner and return to talks with the Minister for Education and Skills”.*** ENDS *** Contact: 01-443 4461 / communications@issu.ie
Parents and students united in support for Junior Cycle
Joint Press Statement
The National Parents' Council post-primary (NPCpp) and the Irish Second-level Students’ Union (ISSU) stand together in support for junior cycle reforms.Issuing a joint statement acknowledging the significant movement by the Minister for Education and Skills to bring about a resolution of outstanding issues and to introduce long-awaited reform of the junior cycle. According to Don Myers, President of the NPCpp, “We have met the Minister in recent months and re-iterated our support for junior cycle reform while also raising the specific concerns of parents. Our main concerns related to certification and a degree of external oversight of classroom assessment. The Minister said she would reflect on those concerns and her new proposal on junior cycle put before the Teachers’ unions clearly demonstrates that she is prepared to listen to concerns and produce proposals that address them. Craig McHugh a seventeen year old student and President of the Irish Second Level Students’ Union (ISSU) said, “Students are hungry to see this significant reform on the ground in our schools. The current model isn’t fit for purpose. Our Students deserve a modern learning experience, one that promises them real skills and actually educates. Instead of providing us with the ability to rote-learn, it provides us with the ability to actually learn. Students are the largest stakeholder in our education system, and as their national representatives, we have no doubt that this new way of teaching and developing young learners will be far better for our students". Concluding both Mr. Myers and Mr. McHugh said, “It is our joint view that the framework for junior cycle reform put forward by the Minister for Education and Skills provides a very sound basis for finally breaking the impasse that has staggered this process. We would respectfully ask the teaching unions to return to talks – this package is good for students, good for parents and good for education. We believe it should be given a chance”. *** ENDS ***Contact 01-443 4461 / communications@issu.ie