Newstalk – The Pat Kenny Show – Thursday 10th August 2023

Paul Crone speaking with Pat Kenny – Extension of free school books to Post Primary Schools

Click on the image to listen…..

SEC Examiner Recruitment

A Chara,

The State Examinations Commission continues to recruit examiners to mark the work of students sitting the Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied, and Junior Cycle examinations this summer.

We would appreciate your support in bringing some important information to the attention of your teachers.

Teachers are the lifeblood of the national examinations system and we rely on their involvement in the marking of the examinations so that we can deliver the annual state examinations service for the benefit of individual students, the education system, and society in general.

We also believe that through engaging in the national examinations system, individual teachers can benefit both professionally and financially.  Professional benefits include;

  • Enhancing their own teaching of the subject by gaining an insight into the marking process
  • Gaining a deeper understanding of the assessment process
  • Exercising their professional judgment
  • Networking with other professionals
  • Increasing their professional development
  • Enhancing their career opportunities by being able to include examinations experience on a CV
  • More experienced examiners will have the opportunity to gain valuable management experience if promoted to a more senior role.

It is also notable that Junior Cycle examinations were last held in schools in the Summer of 2019. This means that in most Junior Cycle subjects the 2022 examinations are essentially the first year of examination of the new Junior Cycle specification.  There are also new and recently introduced subject specifications Leaving Certificate. This presents a fantastic opportunity for teachers to get involved and to gain this insight into how their subject will be marked in order to enhance and develop the quality of their teaching.

Full training will be provided and a support network is available throughout the marking process. We require examiners to mark examinations that are answered through the medium of English and Irish.

Financial Benefits
Written examiners are paid a number of fees and allowances and there have been a number of increases to the fees to bring to attention.

  • Attendance at a training conference
  • An administration fee of €223.93
  • A per script rate
  • New ***A per script satisfactory completion of marking fee (for 2022 related to Covid)
  • New ***A revised arrangements fee of €223.93 if attending a digital conference
  • Traveling expenses and subsistence allowances are also payable.
  • All fees have also been increased by 1% in line with public sector pay arrangements

The script rate for marking Leaving Certificate scripts varies depending on the complexity of the material to be marked and the time taken to mark it. However, it is important to note that this year all examiners will also receive a Covid-related satisfactory completion of marking fee which recognises the cooperation, flexibility, and support needed in the delivery of the examinations.  The Leaving Certificate satisfactory completion of marking fee for all subjects is an additional €6 per script on top of the normal script rate.  This means that the Leaving Certificate marking fees for 2022 have increased by a minimum of 17% and up to 50% per script depending on the subject-specific rate.

In the case of the Junior Cycle, the script rate also varies depending on the complexity of the material to be marked and the time taken to mark it.  The Junior Cycle satisfactory completion of marking fee for all subjects is an additional €3 per script on top of the normal script rate.  This means that the Junior Cycle marking fees for 2022 have increased by a minimum of  48% and up to 57% depending on the subject-specific rate.

For further details, including terms and conditions, the SEC’s policy on appointments, and how to apply; Access the Recruitment Section of www.examinations.ie .

The application form is also available here

The SEC greatly appreciates your assistance in promoting this work with your teachers.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Dolan
Director of Operations
State Examinations Commission

NAPD celebrates Gaisce’s 35th Anniversary with ‘Bulbs For Bees’

NAPD celebrates Gaisce’s 35th Anniversary with ‘Bulbs For Bees’

 

NAPD would like to thank every member who has helped Gaisce – The President’s Award spread the word about the Award’s 35th anniversary in Ireland by taking part in #BulbsForBees campaign – the largest pollination initiative ever seen in Ireland – and it’s still growing….pun intended!

 

To date, over 600,000 bulbs have been distributed nationwide.

 

If you would like to take part and secure bulbs, you can purchase some in the coming days and over this weekend at your local garden centre. Make sure to check before purchase that the bulbs are pollinator-friendly, as they are the ones we need to plant to support the wild bee population across Ireland into Spring 2022.

 

We are encouraging everyone now to ensure that the bulbs you have to hand are planted before next Thursday, 21st of October, and also to make sure you sign up for your special commemorative Gaisce Award certificate.

 

So make sure to:

  1. Plant your pollinator friendly bulb: this is a no-waste campaign!
  2. Post on your social media, tagging @GaisceAward and using #BulbsForBees, and you could win a wonderful prize pack!
  3. Submit a photo of planting your bulbs to the photo competition – competitions@gaisce.ie by next Thursday, October 21st [all ages and individuals from all locations in Ireland can submit]
  4. Sign up for your very special commemorative Gaisce certificate now.

 

President Michael D. Higgins has issued a special note of thanks to all who participated so far:

 

“The provision of a diverse assortment of flowering plants, which will encourage native species in our landscape, is yet another important action in our work to conserve our environment in all its diversity. By planting a pollinator friendly bulb this Autumn, you will be making your own significant contribution to this important work, and to enabling the urgent change that we must achieve for our generations and generations to come. I thank all those who will partaking in this special Gaisce challenge and who, by doing so, make a profound statement of their real desire to protect the life we share on this planet.

 

This campaign has been possible with support from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, as well as An Post and the Irish Local Development Network.

 

Gaisce is by it’s mission a self-development organisation supporting young people between 14-25 across Ireland to dream big, and realise their potential. On this occasion, Gaisce wanted to celebrate the mark these young people have positively had on society by stepping up on climate change and sustainability as an organisation – because they demand it and we know we can all play our part.

 

www.gaisce.ie/BulbsForBees

#BulbsForBees

@GaisceAward

 

ARAG Legal Expenses Insurance Policy

FAO NAPD Members

The policy comes into effect on 1st November 2018 for fully paid up NAPD members.  You can check your status on your personal profile when you log into the members section of the NAPD website.

For members who renew their membership after that date the policy comes into effect two (2) weeks after payment appears on your personal profile.

A review document will be published on the NAPD website shortly and I would ask you to please complete the form should you have occasion to use the services provided.  This will enable NAPD to improve the effectiveness of this indemnity policy in meeting members’ needs.

In the normal course of events, when faced with a complex situation Principals and Deputy Principals seek advice from trusted colleagues, fellow NAPD members or NAPD Head Office, Management Bodies, Trustees, Chair (BOM) or their UNION and this policy is not intended to replace any of these avenues of support.

The purpose and scope of this insurance policy is to provide Indemnity for Legal Expenses incurred by NAPD members in the discharge of their professional responsibilities which are not covered by their Employers or Unions or where the Principal/Deputy Principal is not a member of a Union. 

  

These are the key contact numbers:

 LEGAL ADVICE SERVICE:  Call 01 670 7474

COUNSELLING:                     Call  01 881 8047

Three documents below relating to the ARAG Policy

ARAG Policy Wording

 ARAG Legal Expenses Summary

Possible Scenarios