Carl O'Brien

Ireland

Education Editor at Irish Times

@IrishTimes Education Editor and modest Corkonian.

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Articles

Most Irish J1 students unaffected by US move to halt interviews for visas

1 week ago | irishtimes.com | Carl O'Brien

Most Irish students who have applied for J1 visas to work in the United States this summer will be unaffected by the US government’s suspension of visa interviews for foreign students, according to travel experts. Embassies and consulates have been ordered to stop scheduling new appointments for student and exchange visitor visa applicants as the US State Department prepares to expand social media vetting of foreign students.
Secondary schools to get extra funding to aid roll-out of controversial Leaving Cert reforms

1 week ago | irishtimes.com | Carl O'Brien

Secondary schools will receive a multi-million euro package of funding for science equipment and laboratories to support the roll-out of controversial Leaving Cert reforms from September. The development comes as second-level teachers are being balloted by unions over whether to back a support package for senior cycle changes or vote for industrial action. The latter option could lead to disruption of schools in the autumn.
University of Limerick proposes moving school of medicine to Dunnes Stores site

1 week ago | irishtimes.com | Carl O'Brien

University of Limerick is considering moving its school of medicine to a controversial site it bought in Limerick city centre which it later admitted “significantly overpaying” for. The university bought the former Dunnes Stores property at Honan’s Quay for more than €8 million in 2019. It later wrote down the value of the site by €3 million in its financial accounts.
Leaving Cert English oral exam to be delayed for a year

1 week ago | irishtimes.com | Carl O'Brien

Sweeping changes to two key Leaving Cert subjects – English and accounting – look set to be delayed for at least a year after education authorities acknowledged that more time is needed to prepare for the changes. The development comes as second-level teachers are being balloted over whether to back controversial Leaving Cert reforms or vote for industrial action which could disrupt schools in the autumn.
Plan to streamline school admissions amid criticism of ‘chaotic’ system

2 weeks ago | irishtimes.com | Carl O'Brien

A more streamlined system for applying to second-level schools will be piloted in some areas later this year in a bid to overhaul what parents describe as a chaotic and stressful applications process. At present, parents are advised to apply to multiple schools in areas that are heavily oversubscribed to boost their children’s chances of securing a place in a local school.
‘He is 91st on the waiting list’: Boy who repeated sixth class because schools were full still has no secondary school place

2 weeks ago | irishtimes.com | Carl O'Brien

Kyrylo Luhovyi (13), who lives in Greystones, Co Wicklow, repeated sixth class last year because the local secondary schools were full. This year he has been told, once again, there is no place available for him in September. “He is 91st on the waiting list for one of the schools – Temple Carrig School – and 58th for another, St David’s Holy Faith,” said his aunt and guardian, Iryna Balashova.
Second-generation immigrants more likely to aspire to go to university, study finds

3 weeks ago | irishtimes.com | Carl O'Brien

Second generation immigrants in primary schools are more likely to aspire to go to university than other children, according to a new study. The findings are contained in the latest results from a landmark longitudinal study, Children’s School Lives, undertaken by UCD‘s school of education, which is following 4,000 children across almost 200 schools.
Teachers face 5% pay loss if Leaving Cert reforms blocked

3 weeks ago | irishtimes.com | Carl O'Brien

Teachers could lose up to 5 per cent of pay due under public service deals if they fail to co-operate with controversial Leaving Cert reforms, second-level teaching unions have been warned. The changes, due to roll out from next September, will see students awarded a minimum of 40 per cent for project work or practicals across all subjects in a move aimed at broadening assessment and easing pressure facing exam candidates.
Irish student leads Cambridge team to victory on BBC’s University Challenge

3 weeks ago | irishtimes.com | Carl O'Brien

Dubliner Oscar Despard (22) captained a team from Christ’s College, Cambridge to victory in the final of the long-running BBC student quizshow University Challenge on Monday night. In a thrilling comeback, the Cambridge team – which trailed University of Warwick for most of the final – moved into the lead in the final minutes and won by the smallest margin possible: five points. The winning trophy was presented to Despard and his team-mates by the actor Sir Ian McKellen.
Degrees without CAO points were meant to be a ‘game changer’. Why do so few students avail of them?

3 weeks ago | irishtimes.com | Carl O'Brien

Cullain Burke’s delight with his Leaving Certificate results was short-lived. The 424 points he achieved in 2023 were not enough to secure his dream course, software development at Munster Technological University (MTU), which had soared above 500 points. “I was a little bit devastated to miss out,” he says. “It was upsetting. All my friends were going there.

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carlobrien @carlobrien

8 May 25

Teaching union urges members to back new Leaving Cert reform package https://t.co/dx5gUbQTaB

carlobrien @carlobrien

6 May 25

Teachers are using a ‘viral’ AI tool to grade students’ Leaving Cert work. It’s convenient - but is it ethical? https://t.co/Vy3l23D3zU

carlobrien @carlobrien

29 Apr 25

Irish universities take millions of euro from big business. Are they too close for comfort? https://t.co/nCb4lAvDw6

Carl O'Brien

Articles

Most Irish J1 students unaffected by US move to halt interviews for visas

Secondary schools to get extra funding to aid roll-out of controversial Leaving Cert reforms

University of Limerick proposes moving school of medicine to Dunnes Stores site

Leaving Cert English oral exam to be delayed for a year

Plan to streamline school admissions amid criticism of ‘chaotic’ system

‘He is 91st on the waiting list’: Boy who repeated sixth class because schools were full still has no secondary school place

Second-generation immigrants more likely to aspire to go to university, study finds

Teachers face 5% pay loss if Leaving Cert reforms blocked

Irish student leads Cambridge team to victory on BBC’s University Challenge

Degrees without CAO points were meant to be a ‘game changer’. Why do so few students avail of them?

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X (formerly Twitter)