Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education

Simon Lewis
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Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education

How many times have you said to yourself, "If I were the Minister for Education…?" Well I do! Rather than grumble to myself, I decided to podcast my thoughts on ways I'd change the primary education system in Ireland. Every episode I'll take on a different theme, give some background and hopefully come to some conclusions by the end.

  1. Who will be the next Minister for Education?

    5 DAYS AGO

    Who will be the next Minister for Education?

    In this episode, I count down who I believe are the top ten front-runners to being the next Minister for Education. What position with Norma Foley come? Who do I tip to be the next Donagh O'Malley? Find out in an episode that's like to age very badly!

    44 min
  2. My Election Manifesto

    NOV 17

    My Election Manifesto

    Don't worry, I'm not running in the General Election! You already have enough of me. However, theoretically, if I got to write a Manifesto, there are 4 main areas I would focus on: PatronageSpecial EducationFundingTeacher Shortage You might be surprised by the first one... listen on your favourite podcast platform

    33 min
  3. Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education [Episode 6]

    NOV 16

    Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education [Episode 6]

    In this final episode of Access Undone, I try to outline the ways I would reverse the damage that has been caused in the last decade by the Department of Education and NCSE. I explore three solutions and argue that if all three were implemented, it would save the agencies from being part of the 21st century's greatest education scandal and, even possibly put them in the same definition of Ireland's most famous minister, Donagh O'Malley.

    22 min
  4. Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education [Episode 5]

    NOV 12

    Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education [Episode 5]

    When I appeared on Virgin Media television's "Ireland's Education Crisis," I thought my phone would be buzzing from radio stations eager to find out why I thought the way we treat children with additional needs is Ireland's 21st century scandal. I didn't hear a single thing. It's a theme I'm getting used to when I raise special education: silence. In the same vein, in this episode, I try to get a look into the inner workings of the NCSE. As you'll probably note from the length of this episode, I didn't get very far. However, as I was writing this episode, something happened. The NCSE announced new guidelines for allocating resources. Perhaps our next episode will spark some positivity?

    18 min
  5. Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education [Episode 4]

    OCT 29

    Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education [Episode 4]

    The AON Debacle and what it tells us In this episode I cover the controversial Assessment of Need (AON) process which, to me, shows how the power of silence, supported by the illusion of partnership that representative bodies find themselves, brought us to a place where schools were forced to get the NCSE and the State out of a legal pickle. This episode gives a single point in the scandal, which gives an example of how the State, supported by the corroboration of representative bodies and stakeholders, and with the silence of those in the service, ensures that services to children with additional needs continues to decline Shownotes and Links: 01:45 The Assessment of Need Debacle 05:03 Schools' Struggles and NCSE's Response 10:21 Union Involvement and Teacher Reactions 12:39 Media Coverage and Public Outcry 21:07 The Aftermath and Lessons Learned Dara Calleary Speech: https://twitter.com/Donnchadhol/status/1585234176412114945?t=8Fy3OyCIO9BCES035H7ygQ&s=19 https://anseo.net/subscribe - Subscribe to my newsletter

    27 min
  6. Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education [Episode 3]

    OCT 15

    Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education [Episode 3]

    Episode 3: Those with the greatest needs The episode examines the troubling history of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and its policies, including the controversial cuts to resources and the implementation of flawed allocation models. I discuss the systematic mistreatment and exclusion of special needs children, likening it to past societal scandals. The episode dives into statistical discrepancies and the significant hardships faced by parents and schools, questioning the integrity and effectiveness of the NCSE and related political decisions. At the end, I call on anyone working in the NCSE, especially SENOs to tell their story. Let's hope they do. 00:43 The NCSE's Role and Controversial Actions05:21 Challenges Faced by Parents and Schools14:43 The Set Allocation Model and Its Flaws27:51 The SNA Toolkit and Its Implications32:24 Conclusion and Call for Stories

    36 min
  7. Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education [Episode 2]

    OCT 1

    Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education [Episode 2]

    Episode 2: Soft Barriers In this episode I explore the role of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), a quango responsible for organising resources for special education. I trace the NCSE's establishment in 2003 and its subsequent decline in effectiveness, particularly since the detrimental effects of budget cuts since 2008. The NCSE's lack of adequate support, arbitrary allocation of resources, and controversial response to government cuts are all scrutinised. I argue that despite the increasing number of children with special needs, support has been reduced, leading to a progressively worse situation for these children. And when schools spoke out against the cuts, it was the NCSE, not the government that said schools were putting in soft barriers to stop children accessing support.

    26 min
  8. Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education [Episode 1]

    SEP 17

    Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education [Episode 1]

    If you were to walk into any primary school and compared it to the classroom you might have sat in only a generation ago, apart from a big screen instead of a blackboard, the biggest difference you would see is the diversity of students in that room. One in four children in primary school have an additional need* and according to recent research over 45% of children with support needs are being failed in accessing their right to education. I have spent the last 15 years witnessing the slow collapse of services for children with additional needs in school. Join me for 'Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education,' where I explore what I believe is the 21st century’s greatest educational scandal."

    28 min
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About

How many times have you said to yourself, "If I were the Minister for Education…?" Well I do! Rather than grumble to myself, I decided to podcast my thoughts on ways I'd change the primary education system in Ireland. Every episode I'll take on a different theme, give some background and hopefully come to some conclusions by the end.

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