Irish Independent: John Curtis, general secretary of the Joint Managerial Body, representing management in almost 400 secondary schools, said Ireland had a higher ratio of students to teaching staff than the European average, which warranted "attention in order to ensure the ongoing quality of the education".

He also said the "dependence on the generosity of parents" to help pay school bills was "unsustainable".

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Key measures in Budget 2018 include:

 New teaching and SNA posts:  Over 2,200 extra posts in schools will be provided in September 2018, including:

• 1,091 Special Needs Assistants
• 1,280 new teaching posts in schools in 2018. Including:
• 545 new teaching posts to cater for an estimated 8000 extra pupils in 2018
• 305 posts to provide for a reduction in the primary staffing schedule from 27:1 to 26:1
• 230 new teachers in special classes and special schools
• 100 new Special Education teachers
• 100 teaching posts for guidance
• 10 NEPS psychologists will be recruited in 2018.

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The School of Education at Trinity College Dublin is involved in an international research project about Teacher Autonomy. With the professional assistance of teachers and researchers in four European countries (Ireland, Sweden, Finland and Germany) a questionnaire has been developed that covers important aspects of autonomy and decision-making processes in the teaching profession.

TCD is aiming to get 500 second-level teachers to complete the survey this October as this is the target for each of the four countries.  While this is an ambitious target, a large sample will make any findings more valid and relevant to schools.  

Please invite interested teachers to support this research by responding to this survey: https://link.webropolsurveys.com/S/EC86CEDC62520453

Circular 0064/2017

Prescribed material for Junior Cycle English.

For students commencing Junior Cycle in September 2017.