Irish Vocational Education Association

Headline (click to sort)	Date (click to sort)
Teacher's pet - An insider’s guide to education (Irish Times) Minister for Education Mary Coughlan delivered her best speech since taking office at the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) conference last week. Speaking without notes, the Minister gave the first sign she is prepared to be something more than a cheerleader for Irish education. Echoing the words of former Intel chief Craig Barrett, she signalled that we should dust off any complacency about Irish education and aspire to be better. She also backed a move away from rote learning in our exams and towards more critical thinking. And she spoke in visionary terms about new methodologies and a streamlined education system delivering more from fewer resources.	21-09-10
In my opinion: Let's change the way the system works for all our futures by Michael Moriarty, IVEA General Secretary (Irish Independent) The Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) convenes this week in Co Laois for its 106th annual congress at a time of unprecedented challenge to the State -- with all public services under threat because of the irresponsible behaviour of those we trusted to manage the nation's finances. Yet, the work of ensuring future prosperity and happiness in tomorrow's resurgent economy cannot be put on hold. As every expert, at home and abroad, confirms education and training are the key levers to ensuring our futures, and it is this reality that preoccupies IVEA this week.	15-09-10
Support for low-skilled students under threat (Irish Examiner) "This is something like the employment control framework already in place at third-level colleges, but at least schools are guaranteed that they will not lose any teaching staff," said Michael Moriarty, general secretary of the VECs umbrella body, the Irish Vocational Association (IVEA). The IVEA opposes the move, insisting the local knowledge of staff and VEC members — including councillors and staff representatives — are vital to delivering services appropriate to each city and county.	01-09-10
Leaving Cert must go, says education boss (Sunday Times) Call for radical action to reduce the points pressure on students and produce leadership skills The Leaving Cert has been reduced to an entrance exam for universities and the points race has become a “blight” on the education system, according to Michael Moriarty, general secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association.	28-04-15
Value for money from VECs - a letter from Michael Moriarty, IVEA General Secretary (Irish Times) It would appear that both Mr McCarthy and Mr Flynn may have failed to fully comprehend the breadth and scope of educational and training programmes currently being channelled through VECs and indeed, the way that VECs work. Besides the second level school cohort, there are up to 200,000 young and adult learners availing of VEC educational programmes. These programmes cover adult literacy, community education, back to education schemes, educational programmes in prisons, language and induction programmes for minority groups, and much more.	28-04-15
Coughlan facing a tough new curriculum (Sunday Business Post) The Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) will be hoping that Coughlan, who is a previous chairwoman of the Donegal VEC, will not go ahead with the downsizing plans. IVEA general secretary Michael Moriarty said he wanted an early meeting to put forward the group’s ‘‘very clear policy on the future role of VECs to her’’.	28-03-10
Talkback - There’s no logic to abolishing VECs for just €3m of savings, says Michael Moriarty, IVEA General Secretary (Irish Times) "While accessibility and locally delivered educational services are now critically needed, there seems to be little logic in abolishing a significant number of the 33 VECs to realise just €3 million of savings. The strength of VECs is their identification with local communities, and those charged with directing the future of Irish education should remain mindful of that. They might also look at best practice elsewhere. Norway, for example, delivers much of its education and training through local education bodies and local municipalities. The adage “think globally and act locally” is Norway’s philosophy and is relevant to the work of VECs in Ireland."	09-03-10
Union action could close some schools (Irish Times) Michael Moriarty, general secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association, said the directive would have “serious implications” for schools, which he says are “already badly affected”. With an increased number of post-holders retiring over the summer, “it could well mean that the administration of some badly affected schools will collapse”, he said. He urged the Government to assess the impact of the moratorium “before we reach a point where some schools will be unable to function”.	24-02-10
John Walshe: Chaos is inevitable result if action proceeds (Irish Independent) Michael Moriarty, general secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association said schools would struggle through until the summer but crunch time would come in the autumn after the next batch of retirements.	23-02-10
O'Keeffe to slash number of VECs by third (Irish Independent) "The cornerstone and strength of the VECs' county-based structure has been their identification with their local communities," IVEA General Secretary Michael Moriarty said. "They employ local people to oversee the administration of national education programmes, implemented in local schools, local community centres and parish halls." Mr Moriarty said the democratic representation on committees -- local authority members, elected parents, staff and others -- was rooted in the VECs' local communities. This also acted as an important counterweight to the centralisation "pull" of the Department of Education and Science. Mr Moriarty asked if it was worthwhile weakening a vital piece of local county and borough educational infrastructure to achieve modest savings.	16-02-10
IVEA leader welcomes intervention by LRC (BreakingNews.ie) Michael Moriarty, general secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) today welcomed the intervention of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) in the recent wider public-sector dispute. “I welcome this pro-active action by [LRC chief executive, Kieran] Mulvey and I hope that Government, unions and employers can respond with an openness to address all options,” he said.	25-01-10

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© IVEA 2012