Irish Second-level Students’ Union Welcomes Preservation of Pupil-Teacher Ratio
The Irish Second-level Students’ Union welcomes the preservation of the pupil/teacher ratio in both post-primary and primary schools. The fact that other funds relating to second-level education have been preserved is also welcome.ISSU President, Mark Caffrey said that ‘the Government budget proposal is supportive to education and respects its great importance. In a time of unprecedented reform of the education sector it is important that the necessary funds for these reforms are provided.’He also stated that ‘Whilst the Haddington Road agreement is the main point of contention within the Education Sector it is important to note that the budget has maintained the current pupil/teacher ratio in primary and post-primary schools.The ISSU also glad to see that disadvantaged school communities will be protected from budget cuts this year.ISSU Education Officer, Robert O’Donnell stated that ‘the education aspects of the budget are welcomed by myself and many other members of the ISSU. The security of funding for DEIS schools is crucial for students in these schools, and we are glad to see that this funding will not be altered.’ The Irish Second-level Students’ Union welcomes will work with all other stakeholders to maintain a quality education system in Ireland at second-level.
Second-Level Students' Union Calls for Further Talks to Avert Strike Action
The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) has today called on the Government and ASTI representatives to re-enter negotiations and exhaust every possible avenue in order to avoid the occurrence of industrial action.The ISSU believes that at some stage an agreement will be reached, and it is in everyone’s interests, especially students, that this is done before any industrial action affects schools.ISSU President, Mark Caffrey, said; “One way or another, a resolution will be reached at some point. Therefore we are calling on Government and ASTI representatives to enter further negotiations as soon as possible so that this can be reached before industrial action affects our schools.“If we reach a stage where ASTI members enter into industrial action, there will obviously be a negative impact on students in affected schools. This could cause great upset to some students, and we know from talking to students that they will already be worried about how industrial action could ultimately affect their exam results. Nobody wins if there is industrial action, and we want to see this matter resolved without any impact on students.”Education Officer for the ISSU, Robert O’ Donnell expressed his concern the cloud of industrial action will have on exam students in particular; “As education officer and as a second-level student I am very concerned by the threat of industrial action. It will have would have a big impact, especially on 6th year students who heavily rely on teachers the most on schools. Education has never been so important in this country and the classrooms need teachers in them giving students the education they need.”
ISSU Welcomes New Anti-Bullying Procedures
The Irish Second Level Students’ Union has welcomed the launch of new Anti-Bullying procedures. These new procedures and guidelines, aimed at addressing and preventing bullying such as homophobic and transphobic bullying, and particularly cyper-bullying. This will be mandatory for all schools . ISSU Equality Officer, Conor Lynott, said; “These new mandatory procedures will greatly improve the lives of all of our young people in making the school environment a safe and happy place for young people to grow and achieve their full potential.” ISSU President, Mark Caffrey, said; "The steps taken by the Department have been very positive in recent years when it comes to bullying. Now that schools have had a good chance to look at the department regulations and recommendations it is clear that schools will no longer have any excuses for developing their own local policies on bullying. We wholeheartedly welcome the new regulations. These reforms fit perfectly into the ethos of our second-level schools and are built around the action plan on bullying which the ISSU had a direct role in developing".
CSPE Action Project Initiative : Express Yourself! Young People Promoting Human Rights in Ireland
IHRC invites CSPE students to submit human rights and equality images for national exhibition
Ensuring that everyone can live "equal in dignity and rights" is at the heart of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Young people can play an active role in making this principle a reality and in doing so help build a culture of respect for human rights and equality in Irish society. The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) is inviting CSPE students to promote human rights and equality in Ireland through images, words and action. We are asking you to use your CSPE Action Project to demonstrate what human rights and equality mean to you and to display your work in your school or community for others to see, and at Express Yourself! Young People Promoting Human Rights and Equality in Ireland, a national exhibition organised by the IHRC at the Lighthouse Cinema, Smithfield Dublin 7 from 25 March to 4 April 2014. The Express Yourself! initiative is being organised by the IHRC in collaboration with the Association of CSPE Teachers (ACT); Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU); the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST); and the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD). See last year’s exhibition and find out more about human rights and equality in Ireland at www.ihrc.ie/cspe. Closing date for entries is 29 January 2014. For further information please contact Fidelma Joyce at the IHRC. Tel: 01 8589601 or email: expressyourself@ihrc.ie 
ISSU Congratulates Students on their Junior Cert Results 2013
PRESS STATEMENT
Irish Second-Level Students' Union Congratulates Students on their Junior Cert Results 2013
Today the Irish Second-level Students’ Union (ISSU) would like to wish all those receiving their Junior Certificate results today the very best of luck. However, the ISSU would also like to appeal to students to be responsible and mindful to others in their celebrations.Results this year are broadly in line with previous years, and we are happy with the steady increases seen in the number of students taking maths at a higher level with the project maths syllabus.The ISSU encourages all students to enjoy celebrating their well-deserved results, but to do so responsibly and to stay safe.ISSU Education Officer, Robert O’Donnell said: “Getting your Junior Certificate results is an important milestone in most young people’s lives and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all students on their well deserved results. We were particularly interested in the increase in students opting for higher level maths, and we look forward to analysing the results of our project maths survey to get a full picture of students’ experiences of the new syllabus”.ISSU President, Mark Caffrey said: “Like lots of students across the country, I too will be receiving my junior cert exam results after three years of hard work that has led up to them. It is great to see more students taking higher level maths, and hopefully this will feed into a similar trend in the senior cycle.“I’d like to congratulate all students on their hard-earned results, and encourage everyone to stay safe if they are celebrating tonight”.If students have any issues, they can contact the ISSU on studentvoice@issu.ie / 01 443 44661 *****************ENDS *****************
NATIONAL STUDENT BODIES & TRADE UNIONS JOIN FORCES TO TACKLE YOUTH JOBS CRISIS
NATIONAL STUDENT BODIES & TRADE UNIONS JOIN FORCES TO TACKLE YOUTH JOBS CRISIS Three national student and trade union bodies today (Sept. 5) issued a joint call for immediate government action to address the youth jobs crisis and have proposed the adoption of a new National Jobs Strategy for Young People to tackle the problem. Together, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and the Irish Second Level Students’ Union (ISSU), have called for an end to the ‘lock-out’ of young people from the jobs market and proposed a range of measures to improve access to the workplace and enhance employment skills. The three organisations are seeking joint meetings with “all relevant government ministers and departments” on foot of the proposals. The measures are contained in a new, joint publication - Locked out? Investing in a Future for Youth.
National Jobs Strategy for Young PeopleJobs StimulusMajor investment in the Youth GuaranteeA legal framework for work placementsThe creation of a new Career Information ServiceCreating a new National skills map Speaking on behalf of the Congress Youth Committee, Lorraine Mulligan said: “We cannot afford to lose a generation to precarious work, joblessness or emigration. We need a clear strategy to tackle the problems facing young people, including investment in a Youth Guarantee, offering employment or training opportunities and ensuring decent pay and working conditions for those in the labour force.” USI President Joe O’Connor said: “Some 35,000 young people left Ireland in the last year, as a direct result of policies that didn’t offer them genuine opportunities, while a further 65,000 young people remain unemployed here. “Many are highly-qualified graduates who benefited from huge state investment through their education and would prefer to stay and contribute to our national recovery. But the opportunities just aren’t there. That has to change,” Mr O’Connor said. Mr. Mark Caffrey, ISSU President said: "The issue of youth unemployment and underemployment has not gone away. It is crucial that major steps are taken to ensure that opportunities are created for young people so their employment prospects improve. We need to end this 21st Century Lockout of young people from work and opportunity.”