ISSU meets An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

ISSU Welfare Officer Eric Ehigie meets An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the Future Jobs Summit at the Aviva Stadium

Member's of the ISSU National Student Executive were delighted to have participated in the Future Jobs Summit at the Aviva Stadium which brought together over 160 stakeholders from all aspects of society to discuss what jobs and careers will look like in the future. Over 65% of professionals surveyed believed that their skills will be inapt or out of date within 4 years. We need to ensure that students are adaquately equipped with the relevant skills to adapt and diversify as they will have to in the future. This means reforming the leaving cert to ensure that creativity, critical thinking and analytical skills are promoted and part of the curriculum. 

Members of our NSE quizzed An Taoiseach and the Minister for Education on LC reform and insisted that the student voice must always be heard.

Minister David Stanton T.D. Launches the Irish Second-Level Students' Union's Charter for Inclusive Schools

DATE: 22.3.17 - 12pmMinister David Stanton T.D. Launches the Irish Second-Level Students' Union's Charter for Inclusive SchoolsThe Minister with special responsibility for Equality, Integration and Immigration, David Stanton TD was on hand today to launch the ISSU Students' Charter For Inclusive Schools. The launch took place in the Clock Tower Building in the Department of Education on Marlborough Street.Minister Stanton stated “ I applaud the initiative taken by the ISSU in developing the Charter – I believe successful integration can be achieved by migrants and non-migrants working together and that students can be active participants in the process.”In November last year, the Irish Second-Level Students' Union hosted the Tool's For Inclusive Schools event, in conjunction with OBESSU's (Organising Bureau of European School Students' Unions)  'Seeds for Integration' and National Youth Council of Ireland 'One World Week' focusing on the integration of migrant and refugee students in second-level schools across Ireland. The aim of the event was to consult with second-level students and create a 'Students Charter for Inclusive Schools'.Although schools in Ireland are now more diverse than ever (with one in eight students having been born abroad) the Irish Second-Level Student's Union felt that this issue was not talked about or celebrated in schools. The ISSU Student's Charter for Inclusive Schools is an agreement imagined, designed and written by students who want to make our schools more inclusive of students from migrant, refugee, and minority backgrounds. The Charter also calls on key educational stakeholders to take concrete steps to promote inclusion at second-level education.The Charter features points such as:

• As students, we want a curriculum that adopts a critical perspective towards privilege and history
• As students, we do not judge or fear differences in viewpoints

And

• As students, we call on the Government of Ireland to 'cherish all children of the nation equally' and remove any barriers in schools admissions policies.

 The event, organised by the ISSU International Officer, Ellen O'Rourke was attended by representatives from second-level schools and organisations working in the educations sector as well as organisations representing migrant and minority groups in Ireland.The Irish Second-Level Students' Union will distribute a copy of the Charter to any School's Student Council that wishes to display the Charter in their school.-ENDS- 

Best of luck in your exams

The Irish Second-Level Student's Union wishes all those sitting Junior Certificate,

Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied exams starting today the very best of luck!

Speaking this morning regarding those taking their final exams, Education Officer David Boyce said "The Leaving Certificate is just one component of the Irish education system, but there are many other important aspects to a student’s education over a period of twelve years; the relationships they have built, the memories they have made and the life lessons they have learned. ""

President Jane Hayes Nally added "The nature of the Leaving Certificate is clear, it is a high-stake, high-pressure assessment method. It’s unfortunate how it affects the lives of Irish students, making the last few weeks of second level education a period of stress and worry. I would advise all exam students to eat healthily, drink plenty of water, to sleep well every night, and remember that exams are not everything, although it may feel like it now!"

The annual ISSU exam blog will start today on www.issu.ie available from 6:30pm on scheduled examination dates.

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For media: Please contact communications@issu.ie / Call 01 443 4461

Press Statement: Re-introduction of guidance counsellors

The National Student Executive of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) expresses their concern following reports that in over half of second-level schools nationwide, 1 in 6 are using unqualified guidance counsellors. Particularly of concern is the drop in guidance counselling hours being offered in public schools versus the slight increase in fee-paying schools since 2012. Guidance counselling is an essential service for all students and should not be limited or withheld due to students’ socio-economic background or their ability to pay for such a service.However, the National Student Executive also welcomes the pledge from the newly formed government to reinstate guidance counselling hours to all schools. It is vital that teachers assigned to these posts have the relevant experience and qualifications to fulfill their roles so that students receive the adequate support and advice they need. We are advocating for the re-introduction of guidance counsellors to all second-level schools.

Press Statement: Education Reform must be a key focus under Minister Richard Bruton

PRESS STATEMENT 6th May 2016

Education reform at second-level must continue to be a key focus under Minister Richard Bruton.The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) welcomes the appointment of Richard Bruton as Minister for Education and Skills and calls on the Minister to ensure that education reform continues to be the key focus of the second-level agenda during this term in government.Education reform is vital in order to cater for varying abilities and learning styles, to promote critical thinking and real engagement with learning, to address current skills gaps and to ensure that Ireland boasts a knowledge economy in the future. It is, therefore, crucial that Minister Bruton and the Department of Education and Skills builds on the foundation stones laid by his predecessors in revitalising and modernising our education system.We look forward to engaging with Minister Bruton and to our continued work with his Department over the coming years.***ENDS***Contact ISSU Main Office 01 443 4461 / communications@issu.ie

Press Statement: Mental Health Funds

PRESS STATEMENT 20th April 2016

The National Student Executive of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) is highly concerned in relation to the proposed reallocation of €12 million mental health funds. They are advocating for the reintroduction of guidance counsellors to all second-level schools.Speaking this morning, Rob O’Donnell (President) said;“All efforts should be made to protect every young person within their time in second-level education. The mental health of students is of the utmost concern, and we are deeply concerned with the proposed cutbacks to funding. Guidance counsellors, teachers and school management are already under extreme pressure due to education cutbacks. Adding this cutback will be a huge step backwards in a time when there is wide recognition for the need of adequate nationwide mental health services.”***ENDS***Contact ISSU Main Office 01 443 4461 / communications@issu.ie