Despite concerns about the introduction of History as a mandatory subject for the Junior Cert, the Minister for Education says he is “confident” that the subject will be integrated well into the reformed curriculum.

Changes to the Leaving Certificate cycle should not be made in the near future due to deteriorating” working conditions for teachers, uncertainty around Junior Cycle reform, and general underfunding of education.

The Minister of Education has no plans to grant other subjects, like Geography or STEM subjects, special core status following his decision to embed History in the Junior Cert curriculum.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” is a piece of sound advice attributed to the writer and philosopher George Santayana.

There is sufficient scope within the Junior Cycle framework to see History become a mandatory subject again, according to the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI).

After a review found many students would like to see Irish dropped as a Leaving Cert subject, Conradh na Gaeilge has warned the introduction of a policy promoting the education of the subject is urgently needed.

Many students think Irish should become an optional subject for the Leaving Cert as a review of senior cycle education uncovers mixed views on keeping Gaeilge compulsory.

Young people are frustrated with how sex education is taught in schools, particularly when it comes to consent.

Reinstating History as a core subject is still possible despite a leaked report recommending that should not happen, Education Minister Joe McHugh says.

Because of rising rates of obesity and physical inactivity, we may see the first generation that will have a shorter life expectancy than their parents, writes Claire Heneghan

Migrant children and those from disadvantaged areas start primary school significantly earlier than others and do not settle as well, significant new research shows.

Migrant children and those from disadvantaged areas start primary school significantly earlier than others and do not settle as well, significant new research shows.

Almost three quarters of secondary school students described their experience of sex education at school as “terrible” or “bad” in a survey published by the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU).

The Minister for Education Richard Bruton confirmed this morning on Today with Sean O'Rourke that he has written to the NCCA to initiate a review of sex education curriculum and how it is delivered in schools.

Consent and contraception are to be central elements of a review of sex education in schools ordered by Education Minister Richard Bruton.

On February 8, I wrote to the history educational officer and the NCCA history curriculum development unit, regarding Strand 2 Learning Outcome 2.3 of the new Junior Certificate history course.

Children are to be tracked from pre-school through to the start of second-level in a six-year project to monitor their experiences and to help improve primary education.

Education Minister Richard Bruton expects plans being launched today to make Ireland’s teaching of science and technology the best in Europe.

Around 2,500 students at over 100 schools are expected to take politics and society as a Leaving Certificate subject in 2020.

Junior Certificate students will no longer be asked in exams to prove Pythagoras’ or anybody else’s theorems under a revised junior cycle maths course.

The NCCA says ‘student wellbeing is at the heart of the vision of a new junior cycle’. Richard Hogan hopes it’s true

Teachers, students, and parents are to interviewed to see if changes to Leaving Certificate grades and college entry point scales are affecting what happens in classrooms.

This is an exciting time of change for education in Ireland, writes John Hammond of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.

A review of the controversial Project Maths curriculum is to examine how it affects student performance on third-level courses with a high maths content.

Children from rising numbers of non-religious families should have their upbringing better reflected in primary schools that use new teaching resources, says multi-denominational body Educate Together.

More than 30,000 Junior Certificate students taught by teachers on industrial action should now be able to complete an English test next month and avoid missing out on marks.

The time and level of training required to introduce computer science as a Leaving Certificate subject next year needs significant investment if it is to be a realistic option for all students, a teachers union has warned.

More detailed research is needed on teacher training requirements before the planned introduction of computer science as a Leaving Certificate subject proceeds, experts have advised.

Plans for a standalone course to teach primary pupils about world religions and ethics may be hampered by a law that gives a school patron tight control on what can be taught.

Education Minister Richard Bruton is confident teachers will be properly equipped to teach coding and computer science from primary up to Leaving Certificate levels.

Any move to introduce coding to the primary maths programme would require proper staff training and equipment for schools, a teachers’ union said.

A radical change to the teaching of religion and time set aside for faith formation could be on the way for primary schools.

Coding should be made part of the primary school curriculum, the education minister has said.

Dr Vanessa Woods has been appointed as director of communications with agri technology company Devenish — Beyond Nutrition.

Parents, teachers, and anyone else with a view on how religion is taught in primary schools can now engage in a public consultation on the issue.

The votes of fewer than 3,800 teachers have cast doubt over the most radical school reforms in decades.

Behind the issue of who examines students, junior cycle reforms could revolutionise teaching and learning, writes Education Correspondent Niall Murray.            

The document agreed by union leaders and Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan includes substantial elements of previous documents that had the support of all parties, but varies on some significant elements.

The number of courses being offered by third-level colleges continues to rise despite plans in 2011 to cut them and help end the Leaving Certificate points race.

Key areas of maths that have been dropped from the Leaving Certificate syllabus could become part of a revised applied maths course being developed.

I have to take issue with your editorial (Irish Examiner December 3) with regard to the industrial action taken by the two post-primary teacher unions, the ASTI and the TUI.

As 27,000 teachers place pickets outside the country’s second-level schools, education correspondent Niall Murray sets out the controversial aspects – and the bigger picture – on junior cycle reform

Parents who want their child to be good at, and enjoy, maths, should start by being positive about the subject themselves and try to make sums a fun part of everyday life, writes Helen O’Callaghan 

The education reform debate is entering its fourth year and still does not seem clear cut, writes Education Correspondent Niall Murray