Course Committees/Boards of Studies
This section provides forms and background information for those TUI members on course committees. It also provides information on assessment and examinations.
Examination Remuneration:
Changes in Examination Remuneration - March 2009
Course Committee Downloads:
Vacancies on NCCA Committees
Each year vacancies arise on NCCA Committees - junior cycle, senior cycle, board of studies or special purpose committees. Participation on NCCA committees provides a valuable opportunity for practising teachers and the teacher unions to influence developments in curriculum, syllabi and related assessment procedures and strategies. It is very important that TUI has its full number of representatives on each committee (usually two). Correspondence has issued to schools and centres in this regard. View the attachments which includes letter to schools and centres, current vacancies, guidelines for nominees and nomination form and current nominees. If you are interested contact your local branch for their support.
Call for Nominations - October 2011
TUI Nominees on NCCA Course Committees and Boards of Study - updated October 2011
Guidelines for NCCA Course Committee Representation
NCCA Course Committee Nomination Form
Course Committee/Boards of Study Forms:
NCCA Course Committees
Report Template: Meetings
End of Year Summary Report
NCCA Board of Studies
Report Template: Meetings
End of Year Summary Report
NCCA Committees - Update Details Form
Junior Cycle Reform
Reform of the Junior Cycle
Have a look at the TUI initial response (download here) to the NCCA document Innovation and Identity: Ideas for a new junior cycle, which sets out a range of ideas for how a new junior cycle could be constructed. The submission was based on feedback from members and internal discussions by the Education Sub-Committee and Executive members and addressed the following areas:
• The Reform Agenda
• The Curriculum
• Assessment, Examinations and Qualifications
• Other – pace of change, pilot activity, reform at senior cycle.
While acknowledging the need for the curriculum for post-primary schooling to be ever evolving to remain relevant, the TUI initial response does not infer definite support for the implementation of the suite of ideas under discussion. TUI was especially mindful to highlight the difficulty of moving towards substantial change in post-primary education at a time when resources for the delivery of education services have been curtailed and teachers’ salary and take home pay have diminished significantly.
Please read this initial union response together with the NCCA documentation and be ready to engage in the discussion at this work evolves.
Related documents on the same:
On Wednesday 21st April 2010, An Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan, TD, opened a period of consultation on the development of Junior Cycle education.
The following resources may be of interest.
Click here to download the document Innovation and Identity Ideas for a New Junior Cycle
Click here to download an article from the December 2009 TUI News on Junior Cycle issues
Click here to download an article from the May 2010 TUI News on Junior Cycle issues
Click here to access the NCCA's resource page on the initiative, which includes multimedia and video content
Whole School Evaluation
Whole School Evaluation - Management, Leadership and Learning (WSE-MLL)
Click here to download TUI's response
During the academic year 2009/2010 year the Department of Education and Skills undertook trail work in schools in respect of a new model of whole school evaluation that will, if implemented, run in tandem with the established model of WSE. The model selected for each school will depend on a number of local and national factors.
Following trialling in a number of schools the Department consulted with a key stakeholders including the teacher unions on the issues arising.
TUI based its response to the WSE-MLL approach on feedback from some of the schools that participated in the trail activity and feedback from the Principals and Deputy Principals Association. A lengthy meeting was held with the Department in November to consider and clarify a number of issues, followed by a detailed written submission by the TUI which addressed:
- Relationship between WSE-MLL and Established WSE
- Improvement/ Self- Evaluation Model
- Pre-Evaluation Phase - documentation sought, compliance with child protection guidelines, student and parent questionnaires
- In-School Evaluation Phase - evaluation framework, management and leadership, review of school documents, observation of teaching and learning
- Post-valuation Phase and Final report - reports, access to support
Please contact the Education Officer (Bernie Judge) if you require further clarification.
Fetac Resources
Further Education - Development of new Standards and Awards continues (September 2010 TUI News article)
Expression of Interest application form: Fetac Awards and Standards
Fetac Consultation Paper on Migration of Level 5 & 6 Awards (Information Technology) TUI comments (February 2010)
Fetac Awards and Standards (February 2010 TUI News article)
Fetac Consultation paper on migration of Level 4 Awards - TUI comments (January 2010)
Fetac Consultation paper on migration of Business Awards (Level 5 & 6) - TUI comments (November 2009)