do you have to do homework in ireland

President Michael D Higgins calls for homework to be banned in Ireland

The country’s favourite leader has given hope to a new generation of students that the bane of their afterschool evenings could be scrapped.

• 13:32, 20 JAN 2023
• Updated 14:54, 20 JAN 2023

President Michal D Higgins has called for homework to be banned.

President Higgins argues that this would make time for young people to engage in more creative pursuits outside school hours.

The former Arts Minister believes that school activities should end at the school gate.

He was speaking to RTE’s news2day current affairs and news programme for children on the occasion of the programme’s 20th birthday.

When asked what his opinion of homework President Higgins said: “I think myself, really that the time at home, and the time in the school is an educational experience and it should get finished at the school and people should be able to use their time for other creative things.”

To mark the show’s two decades on air, students from St Kevin’s National School, Littleton, County Tipperary put questions from RTÉ news2day viewers to President Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin.

In a wide-ranging interview, the children asked the President questions like, what was your favourite sport when you were in school?

When you were nine years old what did you want to be?

And when did you decide you wanted to be President?

The students also asked the President about his dogs, his official trips abroad, his favourite subject in school, differences between now and when he was a child and his favourite book. The President also spoke to the children about his love of handball and the importance of friendship in their lives.

RTÉ news2day will broadcast some of the President’s interview as part of Friday afternoon’s birthday celebrations at 4.20pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ News channel and the full interview will be available later on Friday evening on the RTÉ Player.

In a message to the children of Ireland and the viewers of RTÉ news2day, President Michael D. Higgins gave this advice: “To stay curious about everything and I think it’s important to make sure you don’t miss the joy of sharing information.

“And I think an important thing is friendship and to make sure that there’s no one left without friendship and that people belong. And we will all do individual things... but I think friendships that you make will in fact always be great memories and that is so important.

“And also have the courage to stand your own ground and let other children be allowed the space of standing their ground too because none of us are the same.

“We’re all unique but at the same time we have a lot going for us.”

President Higgins also encouraged the children of Ireland to speak the Irish language.

He encouraged them to speak Irish in a fun way and to feel free to use whatever bits of the language that they have.

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What subjects do I have to take in secondary school in Ireland?

In Ireland the Minister for Education and Skills sets the curriculum for primary and secondary schools

Written by spunout

Fact checked by experts and reviewed by young people.

This factsheet is an extract from the publication Know Your Rights: The Rights of Children and Young People published by the Children’s Rights Alliance . It is reproduced here with their kind permission. Know Your Rights is a public information project designed to inform everyone, in plain language, of the rights and entitlements children have in Ireland and where to go when they are not respected.

The Minister for Education and Skills sets the curriculum (the subjects to be taught) in Irish secondary schools. They take into account the advice of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Your school and teachers decide what you will learn from that curriculum every day at school. 

Do I have a right to choose my own subjects at school?

In secondary school you are able to choose certain subjects within the curriculum. However, you must study English, Mathematics and Irish. You can get an exemption from studying Irish in certain circumstances. For more information go to the Curriculum Online website .

Do I have to study religion at school?

You do not have to study religion in school, but you can only not study it if your parent or guardian says you do not have to. If you are over the age of 18 you can decide for yourself. If you do not share the religion of your school, or do not have a religion, you do not have to attend religious classes or events. Your parent or guardian can ask that you do not take part in this class and the school must agree to this.

If you belong to a different religion from that of your school, the school does not have to provide you with instruction (classes) in your own religion.

For those who do not want religious teaching in school, Community Post Primary Schools and Education and Training Board (ETB) post primary schools must offer an alternative subject or subjects. The school must let parents know that such alternative tuition is available. You and your parents must be asked to choose between religious instruction and the alternative subject or subjects offered by your school.

Do I have to do homework?

Yes. Each school sets its own rules and policies for homework and as a pupil you must follow the rules and policies of your school. If you are having difficulty with your homework you should speak to a teacher as they may be able to provide you with extra support. 

Do I have to do tests and exams?

You have to follow school rules or policy and this may include sitting tests and exams. The law does not say that you must sit the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate exams. However, the Leaving Certificate is the most common way into third-level education (universities and third-level colleges).

There are also other education options like:

•   The Leaving Certificate Applied
• Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) Awards

If you are home-schooled you do not have to take the formal exams like the Junior or Leaving Certificate, but you can ask your parent or guardian to arrange for you to do so. You can get more information on the website of the State Examination Commission .

Can I appeal results of my Junior or Leaving Certificate exams if I think they are unfair?

Yes. To appeal a result in a Junior Certificate subject, talk to your school who will apply to the State Examinations Commission for you. To appeal a result in a Leaving Certificate subject you must:

•  Fill in an appeal form which you can get from your school
• Send the form to the State Examinations Commission.

For both exams there is a fee for each subject you wish to appeal.

Visit our Education section to lean more about your options both during and after school. 

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Why Iran Has Not Yet Retaliated Against Israel for Hamas Leader’s Killing

Tehran is under pressure to avenge the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, but analysts said it is balancing multiple factors as it weighs a response.

• Share full article

By Matthew Mpoke Bigg

• Published Aug. 12, 2024 Updated Aug. 14, 2024

Iran vowed revenge at the end of last month after a top Hamas leader was killed in Tehran, leading many in Israel to fear an imminent attack. Nearly two weeks have passed and no large-scale response has materialized, leaving Israel and the wider Middle East on edge.

The crisis comes at an especially delicate moment in Iran, which analysts say is trying to formulate a response that doesn’t let an assassination on its soil go unpunished, while avoiding an all-out war against a powerful adversary. It also comes as a new government in Tehran has taken office, which could be slowing a decision on how to respond.

Here’s a look at the crisis and the factors that could determine what happens next:

Why has Iran vowed revenge?

Iran and Hamas officials have promised to avenge the death of Ismail Haniyeh, a senior Hamas leader, who was killed in Tehran on July 31 after he attended the inauguration of Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian. Iran, which backs Hamas, blamed Israel for the assassination. Israeli leaders have not said their forces were responsible.

A day earlier, Fuad Shukr , a senior commander in Hezbollah, which is also supported by Iran, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in a suburb of the Lebanese capital, Beirut. The Israeli government said that strike was in retaliation for a rocket fired from Lebanon that struck a soccer field in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, killing at least 12 people, mostly teenagers and children. Hezbollah has denied carrying out that attack.

But Mr. Haniyeh’s killing was seen as the greater blow to Tehran because it took place on Iranian soil. In response, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued an order for Iran to strike Israel directly , according to three Iranian officials briefed on the matter. Failing to follow through on that threat would suggest that Iran’s system of deterrence, built up over years and at great cost, was in fact hollow, analysts said.

Why hasn’t Iran responded yet?

A spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Nasser Kanaani, said that “it is necessary to punish Israel,” echoing comments from other senior Iranian officials. But he also said that “Tehran is not interested in escalating the regional conflicts.”

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• Training & Resources
• Special Education

National Parents Council (NPC)

Your child and school - faqs.

Here you can find out answers to questions you might have about your child and school.

A split class is one where two or more levels are taught together (e.g. 3rd class and 4th class) by the same teacher in the same classroom. This may be necessary in a smaller school where pupil numbers don't allow for separate classes at all levels or in a larger school where the intake might fluctuate. The Principal is responsible for the allocation of teachers to classes. ESRI research (2014) which used data on 8,568 nine-year-old children from the Growing Up in Ireland study showed that children in a split class “did not perform any better nor any worse than children in single-grade classes”. It is believed that older children benefit by having the work they covered in the previous year reinforced and the younger children experience a broader spectrum of information, allowing many of them to advance. The Principal has to decide what is the best way to split the classes, where necessary, and in some cases it is by age, some alphabetically. In some cases the children may be given an opportunity to pick one or two friends that they would like to be in the same class. The parents association may also have a role to play in exploring the social impact of a split class on the children. The best thing to do is to talk to the Principal and he/she will be able to explain why they had to split the class and which system they used to decide on which children go into which class.

The Special Education Teaching allocation model provides that all schools will have a basic allocation to assist pupils who have learning and literacy difficulties, including those arising from English as an Additional Language (EAL) needs. Additional support is available for schools with high concentrations of pupils that require language support.

A Learning Support Teacher service is available to all primary schools and the Department of Education and Science has produced Learning Support Guidelines. These guidelines explain the aims and activities of learning support programmes. They include the procedures for identifying and selecting children who might be having difficulty with their school work curriculum and who need supplemental teaching. It is the learning support teachers who provide this extra teaching. Children who continue to have difficulty coping with their school work, can be psychologically assessed by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) and may be eligible for Resource Teacher support.

No, the children are entitled to the full curriculum which includes a minimum of one hour per week of PE.

No teacher can be required to administer medicine or drugs to a pupil.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) and the Catholic Primary School Management Association (CPSMA) advise that the parent(s) of the pupil concerned should write to the school's board of management requesting the board to authorise a member of the teaching staff to administer the medication.

The request should also contain written instructions of the procedure to be followed in administering the medication. The board of management, having considered the matter, may authorise a teacher to administer medication to a pupil.

If the teacher is so authorised she/he should be properly instructed by the board of management. A teacher should not administer medication without the specific authorisation of the board.

In administering medication to pupils, teachers should exercise the standard of care of a reasonable and prudent parent.

The board of management should inform the schools insurers accordingly.

The board of management should seek an indemnity from the parents in respect of any liability that may arise regarding the administration of the medication.

It is important that boards of management request parents to ensure that teachers be made aware in writing of any medical condition suffered by any children in their class.

Children who have epilepsy, diabetes, or are prone to anaphylactic shock syndrome may have an incidence attack at any time and it is vital therefore to identify the symptoms in order that treatment can be given by an appropriate person if necessary.

The first thing you should do is speak to the child's teacher. If you think it is something which could be solved in a few minutes you should speak to the teacher either at the beginning or end of the school day. If it would take a little longer you should ask for an appointment with the teacher and outline the nature of the problem if possible. When you meet the teacher explain the problem as clearly and calmly as possible. Be prepared to work with the teacher and your child to resolve the problem. If the problem cannot be resolved at this level, the next step is to involve the Principal. You should make an appointment and bring with you any paperwork which may be relevant. If the problem remains unresolved the next step is to contact the Board of Management of the school.

More detailed information about any concerns you might have about bullying or child protection can be found at this link https://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Information/Complaints-Bullying-Child-Protection-Discrimination/

If you need any help with this please call the NPC Helpline Tel: 01 8874477 or email: [email protected]

The first thing you should do is speak to your child's teacher. Quite often a teacher can deal with this in the classroom and the problem can be resolved there and then. If the problem persists you should ask for a copy of the school's anti-bullying policy and check if it is being followed. If it is not being followed you should follow the procedure as outlined above in Q6. As a family you can support your child by listening to them and letting them know that you are on their side. You should reassure them that they haven't done anything wrong and that you will do all you can to make the bullying stop. You should also do all you can to build up their self esteem whether that's by encouraging activities they are involved in, or introducing them to other groups of children etc. Click here for the NPC leaflet on Bullying, click here to go to the Department of Education and Skills Anti Bullying Procedures for primary and post primary schools

Irish is an integral part of the curriculum in all primary schools. There are some exceptional circumstances where a child may be exempted from studying Irish.

Exempting a pupil from the study of Irish should be considered only in exceptional circumstances. The decision to exempt a pupil from the study of Irish is an important decision that has implications for his/her access to the curriculum and his/her future learning. The decision to grant an exemption from the study of Irish is made by the principal teacher, but it must be made following detailed discussion with the pupil’s parent(s)/guardian(s), the class teacher, special education teachers, and the pupil.

The only exceptional circumstances in which a school may consider granting an exemption from the study of Irish are set out in Section 2.2 of Circular 0054/2022  in the case of primary schools and in Section 2.2 of Circular 0055/2022  for post - primary schools.

In certain circumstances that are outlined in the circular an exemption may be granted to:

• A student, aged at least 12, moving from abroad without previous experience of learning the Irish language or a student who have completed their primary education abroad.
• A student who experiences significant literacy difficulties which are an obstacle to their learning across the curriculum.
• A student who experiences a high level of multiple and persistent needs that are a significant barrier to the student’s participation and engagement in their learning and school life.
• A student in a recognised special school or class or who was previously enrolled in a recognised special school or class or who has a recommendation and has been deemed eligible for a place in a recognised special school and/or in a special class in a mainstream school.
• A student whose parent(s)/guardian(s) is a/are diplomatic or consular representative(s) of another country to Ireland irrespective of age or educational history It is recommended that the parent(s)/guardian(s) discuss with the school whether the school believes that there is sufficient evidence to support an application for an exemption from the study of Irish.

It is the Department’s policy that all students (including those granted an exemption) are provided with opportunities to participate in Irish language and cultural activities at a level appropriate to their learning needs, to the greatest extent possible, and in a meaningful way

Yes. If you are not satisfied with the decision made by the school to refuse your application, then it is open to you to make an appeal. You should complete the Irish Exemption Appeal Form on the Department’s website and return it to the Department of Education within 30 calendar days from the date you were notified of the decision of the school not to grant an exemption.

There is no need to send in any other documentation as the department will be contacting the school to request the documentation that was used in the decision to refuse the exemption.

An Irish Exemption Appeal form can be submitted by e-mail to: [email protected] or by post to Schools Financial and Database Section, Department of Education, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co.  Westmeath, N37 X659

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) have lots of information about the various subjects at all levels. Click here to get detailed information on their website about each of the subject areas.

The curriculum refers to the programme of study your child will follow through their primary school years. It is presented in seven areas, some of which are further subdivided into subjects. The development of curriculum for Religious education remains the responsibility of the different church authorities. However, the Minister for Education and Skills has asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to develop a religion and ethics programme for schools. Click here for further information on the Education about Religion and Beliefs (ERB) and Ethics curriculum. Click here for information on all of the curricular areas.

This is a document which outlines the behaviour expected of all members of the school community. It should be prepared in consultation with all members of the school community including pupils and parents. It should be available to all parents and you may be asked to sign it when your child starts school. Corporal or physical punishment is illegal in Irish schools. Click here to find out more about Developing a School's Code of Behaviour.

Schools set their own policy in relation to homework. For example, in some schools children from first to sixth class are given homework each week night. Other schools give a small amount of reading or maths to infant classes. If your child does get homework, you should give them space and encouragement to do it. If they need it, offer your help. Take time to talk with your child about what they do in school each day. Set aside a quiet time where your child is sitting comfortably at a table and will not be distracted by television or other noise. Homework time should include time for oral as well as written work. Oral work - speaking and repeating what they have learned - is particularly helpful in the early years. Encourage your child to keep their text books and exercise books clean and tidy. If your child is working on their own, be available to help and show an interest in what they're doing. Praise your child's efforts whenever you can. Try to be patient with your child. If your child is having ongoing problems with homework discuss this with the teacher. If your child can't do their homework for any reason, let the teacher know. Write a short note explaining why or arrange a meeting with the teacher. Click here to download the NPC Homework leaflet

The amount of homework and the time to be allocated to it are key features of the school's homework policy. Parents need to be fully familiar with this policy, so as to manage the time allocated at home by the child. It is important that the target time for homework for their child's class is known to parents. They can then intervene if the child takes a significantly longer time to complete the tasks set, and can alert the teacher to the difficulties being encountered.

Click here to download the NPC Homework leaflet.

It is very important for your child to have good home-school communication. Parents are the primary educators of their children and their co-operation and support are essential to the school. In some schools Home-School community Liaison Officers are appointed from among the teaching staff to encourage parents to participate more fully in their children's education and to become more involved in the life of the school. This scheme is restricted to a small number of schools. Click here for further information on the HSCL scheme.

Primary schools in Ireland are funded on the basis of a Capitation Grant Scheme which is decided in the Budget by the Government every year. That means the school's Board of Management gets a certain amount of money allocated for each child that they have enrolled in the school. This money is used to pay all expenses, such as electricity, oil, insurance, telephone, etc. As costs rise, this is often not enough to cover all the costs. Some schools ask parents for a voluntary contribution to help towards these costs. This of course has to be on a voluntary basis and you are under no obligation to pay it. No child or family should be named or shamed for not contributing.

In each school year there will be one formal parent/teacher meeting held in each primary school. This will usually take place at the end of the school day and the school will close 15 minutes early to facilitate this. The school will let you know the date and time of the meeting. This is an important meeting and you should do your best to attend. At the meeting you can see examples of your child's work and discuss your child's progress with the class teacher. Going to these meetings also shows your child that you are interested in how they are doing. If you are concerned about your child's progress at any stage during the year, you can arrange to speak to the class teacher. If you cannot attend the formal parent/teacher meeting then you should let the teacher know and you should be offered a suitable and convenient alternative. Click here to read the Department of Education and Science Circular PC 14/04: Arrangements for Parent/Teacher and Staff meetings.

Schools generally communicate with parents by sending notes home with the child. These notes can be written in the child's homework diary or printed on a separate sheet. You should check your child's school bag each day for notes.

Under the Education Act, 1998 the school must provide reports for each child. The school must allow parents to have access to their child's school record. The school should have a procedure to keep parents informed about matters relating to the school. The Act states “the Principal and teachers shall regularly evaluate students and periodically report the results of the evaluation to the students and their parents”. Under the Education (Welfare) Act, if a student leaves one school to go to another, the Principal of the first school must give information about the child to the new school. This information may include attendance or other relevant matters relating to the child's progress. You should receive a written report from your child's school at some point(s) during the year. This report will give you information on your child's progress and achievement in school in four key areas.

1. Your child as a learner how your child likes learning in school how your child works with other children, or on his/her own how your child keeps trying at work, even when it is hard how well your child works in school or at home

2. Your child's social and personal development if your child appears happy in school how he/she behaves how he/she gets on with other children in the classroom and in the playground

3. Your child's learning across the curriculum how he/she is getting on in English, Gaeilge, Mathematics, and in the other subject areas whether he/she needs a little or a lot of help with school work whether your child needs a little or a lot of help with homework

4. You and your child's learning how you might be able to help your child to do better in school things you can do at home to help with your child's learning

For tip sheets on ways you can help your child to learn, check the NCCA website www.ncca.ie

For further information or to download an information sheet on your child's school report click here to go to the NCCA website

Other items which should be included in your child's report include: Standardised test results - when applicable should be included in your child's report. The purpose of the standardised test is to check how your child is performing in literacy (English) and numeracy (maths). The tests must be carried out at the end of first class or the beginning of Second and again at the end of fifth or the beginning of sixth class. Parents must be informed of the result of the test. The result of a standardised test will appear as a number. Your child's teacher will write a short comment explaining to you what this number means. Comments - The teacher may draw attention to something (s)he would like to talk to you about. The teacher might use this space to draw attention to, or praise your child for some special achievement or quality. For further information on Standardised Tests see the NCCA website www.ncca.ie

If a request is made then it would be appropriate to comply with the request and to supply copies of school reports to both guardians. Again, in the absence of a request, a school would have to consider the particular circumstances but, given that it would be likely that there would be relatively little expense and difficulty in arranging for copies of the reports to be sent to both guardians it would seem sensible to have a policy which provides for copies of reports to be sent to each guardian.

Supervision before and after school is an issue of concern in many schools, the Board of Management has a duty of care for all children including periods of time where children are on the school premises outside of the official 5 hours and 40 minutes contact time, i.e. when the children assemble for school and when they are dismissed at the end of the school day. It is up to the management of the school to ensure that all children and staff are in a safe environment. To this end the Board of Management must prepare a safety statement which would highlight any areas of particular concern. However the staff of the School are not required by their contract to provide supervision outside of the official 5 hours and 40 minutes contact time. NPC have been negotiating with the Department for a number of years on this issue and we were delighted when it was particularly suggested as one of the ways a school could use their extra hour per teacher per week as per the CrokePark Agreement. The provision, with effect from the start of the 2010/11 school year, of an additional hour per week to be available to facilitate, at the discretion of management, school planning, continuous professional development, induction, substitution and supervision (including supervision immediately before and after school times). The Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) says: Based on Case Law precedence and the advice of Allianz Insurance, it appears that it can be reasonably expected that children will be on school premises for up to 10 minutes before and after school, allowing for normal access and departure in an orderly fashion. Once the school allows access to the premises, the School authorities have a duty to supervise. The same applies to pupils staying on after school. It is not reasonable to leave children standing on the sides of busy roads in inclement weather where the traffic poses a danger. The geography of every school is different, but regardless of design, the Board of Management’s (BoM's) responsibility relates to the entire premises and not just the school building or designated playgrounds. Some Solutions suggested by the IPPN (Irish Primary Principals’ Network) include: Engage the Parents’ Association (PA) in discussion re. Before & After School Children’s Safety. Outline the BoM’s difficulty in relation to this matter Engage the PA in discussion re. the link between the school opening time and the pattern of children being on school premises for lengthy periods in advance. Having consulted with parents through the Parents’ Association & individually and having consulted with staff, the BoM should consider the feasibility of altering the school opening time to minimize the amount of time children spend unsupervised on the school premises. The BoM to engage the PA in discussion re providing a Rota of parents to supervise the safety of children before & after school. The BoM and the PA should negotiate with transport providers and seek more practical collection and drop-off times for children. Where transport providers are either unwilling or unable to show flexibility, encourage parents to engage in car pooling.

There are no specific allowances for space per child in a classroom, neither are there rules regarding the maximum number of children in a classroom. It is up to the management of the school to ensure that all children and staff are in a safe environment. To this end the Board of Management must prepare a safety statement which would highlight any areas of particular concern. If you are concerned you should raise the issue with the class teacher / Principal.

The Principal has the responsibility to organize supervision at break and lunchtime. It is up to the management of the school to ensure that all children and staff are in a safe environment. To this end the Board of Management must prepare a safety statement which would highlight any areas of particular concern. There is a system for supervision which teachers can opt into and be paid for this work separate from their salary. Most teachers have opted into this. The principal organises a suitable Rota. Some of the additional time agreed under the Croke Park Agreement can also be used for supervision if necessary. If you have a concern you should raise this with the Principal.

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Teaching your child at home

Home schooling, educating your child at home, registering to teach your child at home, support for teaching your child at home, state exams and third level education.

You have a constitutional right to educate your child at home. The Irish Constitution recognises the family as the primary educator of the child and defines the duties and responsibilities for parents and the State in the education of children.

If you choose to teach your child at home, often called home schooling or home education, you do not need a formal teaching qualification. You do not need to follow the national curriculum, but you must ensure that your child receives a certain minimum education.

You can choose a suitable approach to teaching your child based on their learning needs and what is appropriate to their age, aptitude and ability.

The information in this document is for people who choose to teach their child at home on a long-term basis. You can also find the answers to some frequently asked questions about home schooling .

To teach your child at home, you must:

• Provide a minimum education
• Register with TUSLA's Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service (AEARS)

Minimum education

Section 14 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 provides for parents to educate their children in places other than recognised schools, such as in the home or in private schools. You do not need to follow a national curriculum. However, the Act states that parents must ensure their child receives a certain minimum education.

A recognised school is a school overseen by the Department of Education. An independent school (or non-recognised school) is a school that is not overseen by the Department of Education.

There are detailed Guidelines on the Assessment of Education in places other than recognised schools (pdf) . The guidelines provide a working definition of a certain minimum education . They describe home-based education and how it is assessed.

The education should:

• Be suited to your child's age, ability, aptitude and personality
• Be responsive to your child’s individual needs and take account of the areas of learning that interest your child
• Ensure that your child's personal potential is enhanced and not suppressed
• Address the immediate and future needs of your child in the context of the cultural, economic and social environment
• Provide a reasonably balanced range of learning experiences, so that no one aspect of your child’s learning is emphasised to the exclusion of others
• Develop your child's personal and social skills and prepare them to be a responsible citizen
• Contribute to your child's moral development
• Provide opportunities for your child to develop their intellectual capacities and understanding

The basic skills that are part of a minimum education include development and progression in oral language, literacy and numeracy. A child would be at a serious disadvantage if their home education programme did not develop these basic skills.

Register with Tusla

You must register your child with Tusla if you plan to teach them at home.

If your child attends an independent school, you should apply to register them through the school. Registration is a legal obligation, but it is not automatic. Parents or guardians are responsible for making an application on behalf of their child. See ‘Registering to teach your child at home’ below.

You apply directly to Tusla's Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service (AEARS) to register to teach your child at home.

AEARS can send you an application form and a copy of the Guidelines on the assessment of education in places other than recognised schools (pdf) . You can find more in frequently asked questions .

Tusla then assesses your application to register.

Tusla interview and assessment

When you return the application form, the person who will carry out the assessment will contact you. They will arrange a time and date to interview you. This assessor is experienced in education and is authorised by Tusla to carry out the assessment.

The assessment will focus on:

• The details of the education being provided to your child
• The materials used in the course of the education
• The time spent providing the education

The interview can take place in a venue of your choice and will be based on what you have said in your application. This is called the preliminary assessment . Your assessor will complete a draft assessment report and a copy of this will be forwarded to you for comment. Following the report, your child’s name will either be entered into the register or your case will be referred for a comprehensive assessment.

If Tusla is not able to decide whether you are providing a minimum education, a comprehensive assessment will be carried out. This is more in-depth. The assessor spends some time with you, observing how you teach or work with your child, inspecting your educational materials and talking to your child.

Appealing a decision

If Tusla decides that you are not providing a certain minimum education for your child, it can refuse to register or remove your child’s name from the register. It must inform you of its decision in writing.

You have 21 days to appeal against the decision. The Minister will appoint a committee to hear the appeal and decide on the case.

An appeal committee is made up of a District Court judge, an inspector and another person. You and the assessor are invited to make submissions. Depending on their decision, the committee will:

• Uphold the decision of Tusla to remove or refuse to add your child’s name to the register
• Require Tusla to add your child’s name to the register
• Require Tusla to add your child’s name to the register if you agree to comply with any requirements the appeal committee considers appropriate.

If you educate your children at home or in a place other than a recognised school, you are not entitled to financial support from the State.

Home Education Network

The Home Education Network (HEN) is a support and lobby group for home educators in Ireland.

HEN aims to help parents use available resources to develop educational techniques suitable for each child’s needs. Members exchange ideas and experiences of home education through regular meetings and newsletters. Its website has links to research and online information about home education. The network also operates a library service of books on home education for members.

State examinations

Your child can sit Junior and Leaving Certificate examinations at any school by registering with the school in early January of the year that your child will take the exams. Further information is available from the State Examinations Commission .

Third-level education

If your child does not sit State examinations, then entry to third-level education in Ireland is difficult. The normal route into Irish third-level institutions is through the Leaving Certificate.

However, it may also be possible to enter third-level education at aged 17 or 18 without the Leaving Certificate by interview only. You will need to approach your chosen institution to discuss this possibility. There are a variety of courses for the 16-plus age group which are accepted as valid for entry to third-level courses.

You can find out more about further and higher education and training courses from Qualifax - The National Learner's Database .

Related documents

• Homelessness and the right to housing An overview of homelessness in Ireland, outlining legislation and policy. 975.7407
• Residence rights of EU citizens and their families in Ireland EEA nationals have the right to travel to Ireland and do not require a residence permit to remain here. There are however some limits on these rights. 892.7307
• Homeless and registering to vote How to register to vote if you have no fixed address or you are homeless. 877.4354

If you have a question about this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).

You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre .

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'Why I believe homework should be banned', by one primary school student

As the discussion around state exams through the Covid-19 shutdown continues, a separate debate about the very need for homework itself rumbles on. Over the years, many have argued that homework for students in busy modern-day family structures is no longer workable.

This year, the Green Party sought to open a discussion about the banning of homework in future. Here, primary school pupil Misha McEnaney, a fifth class student from Dublin, outlines why he believes homework is more of a hindrance than a help.

IRISH CHILDREN SPEND around 274.5 hours on homework in a year. Is it a waste of time? Generally speaking, homework does not improve academic performance among children, although it may improve academic skills among older students especially lower-achieving kids. Homework also creates stress among students who could be doing other things.

I think it is a waste of time. Here’s why I think so. 

Many students think homework is extremely boring and hard so it increases our stress levels. You might fight with your family or friends and that gives the impression you are angry and irritated when often it’s just because your homework is increasing your stress.

Also, a study by scholar Denise Pope at Stanford shows that out of 4,300 students at high-performance schools, 60% stated that their homework was their primary source of stress.

Movement is more important

I believe that homework eliminates time when you could be exercising, playing sports, carrying out hobbies, reading etc. So when your friends are playing outside or something exciting or important is happening you can’t go out because you’re stuck inside doing your homework. 

Homework messes up your sleep cycles and it causes you to be more tired. After school when you’re tired from working you still have to do your homework, so you don’t deliver your full concentration and that makes your performance not as acceptable as it should be. This can cause your grade to go down and so that defeats the whole point of education to become better and smarter. 

A study from teenink.com shows that students perform best in school when they receive 10–12 hours of sleep each night, while only 15% of teenagers in America reported themselves sleeping eight hours or more on school nights, according to the national sleep foundation of America. Sleep disruption is very bad for our health.

Teacher trust

If you’re completely booked up for the day doing sports or other activities you have no time to do your homework. Your teachers start to trust you less and less and this develops a bad view of you when it’s not entirely your fault. 

It’s also repetitive so you’re doing the same work at school and there’s no effectiveness, it’s not going in. So all that homework becomes a waste because you have already completed it at school. You can also easily get distracted.

Homework takes away revision time for tests and that can affect the test scores. That develops a bad reputation for the student and for the school. The parents then assume that the teaching at the school is bad and they might move school. So the kid might lose friends and over time the school becomes less liked and popular.

All because there is too much homework. 

Bad for the mood

If you don’t sleep enough it can cause mood swings which can affect students’ performance and relationships. To think we can stop all of this by just banning homework makes me wonder why schools still give out homework at all.

People who believe that homework should not be banned have reasonable points and arguments. They believe that doing homework at home can be better for the students and they would receive higher results. 

They also think the parents of the students will have an idea of what type of work they are doing in the classroom, at what scale the student is doing their work and how the student is doing that work. There is absolutely no reason why parents shouldn’t know what the student’s work is like. 

Some people believe that homework boosts interaction between a student and his or her teacher. Homework might develop their presentation skills. They believe that homework is “a remedy against weaknesses”. These can all be done at school. They believe it teaches the students responsibility because they have to make sure that they do their work and not lose it or destroy it. 

They think the students learn much more new information as well as in school. So people think it teaches the students important life skills. They also think it keeps the students busy and entertained. I would argue that these should all be the responsibility of parents, not school.

A shift in the debate

The Green Party in Ireland has promised to explore the banning of homework for primary school children. They also vow to review primary and secondary schools curriculum “to meet the needs of the 21st century”. Catherine Martin, deputy leader of the Green Party, said that “the phasing out of homework is something that definitely should be explored”. 

“This isn’t new, this has been on our policy for the past several years. And I think we really need to have a conversation on how best to develop the creative juices of our children, or really change how we do homework, homework could be, ‘go home and draw a picture of something that means a lot to you’,” she said.

“They’re so young, especially up to the age of seven or eight, it’s a conversation that we need to have”. 

She used the example of Loreto Primary School in Rathfarnham, Dublin, which is currently trialling a “no-homework” programme for all classes except sixth. Ms Martin said that they had found the pilot scheme “amazing” and children were spending a lot more time with their families as a result. 

Mental health considerations

Psychotherapist Mary McHugh believes that we are reducing children’s natural “curious, imaginative and creative” tendencies by “pressuring them to conform”. 

“Our children from the age of three, are being trained to sit still and from five upwards, it’s expected that this is the norm.” McHugh also says that “stress is showing up at an alarming scale and we’re still applying more pressure academically younger and younger”. 

Let’s look at Finland. In Finland, there is no homework in all schools. Finland agrees that there should be no homework because it increases stress, it wastes time etc. Finnish students regularly top the charts on global education metric systems.

Some 93% of Finnish students graduate from secondary school compared to 75% in the USA and 78% in Canada. About two in every three students in Finland go to college which is the highest rate in Europe. The students’ test scores dominate everyone else.  These are the scores for the PISA test (Program for International Student Assessment) 2006.  There are other reasons why Finland’s education system is so good but no homework is definitely an important one. 

Homework increases stress levels among students. It replaces time for hobbies and sports. It messes up your sleep. It can’t always be done and that causes trouble. It’s repetitive. You can develop health problems from lack of sleep.

It takes away time for studying and also when you don’t get enough sleep you can get mood swings and that can affect performance and relationships. There are reasonable arguments for why people who believe that homework shouldn’t be banned are wrong.

We have seen that the Green Party also thinks that homework should be banned and that some schools have already trialled it. We have looked at Finland banning homework and we have seen the impact it has made compared to other countries. This is why I think homework should be banned, not just in my school but in all schools. 

Misha McEnaney is a fifth class student at St Mary’s College, Rathmines, Dublin.

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How Much Do Olympic Medalists Get Paid?

It entirely depends on what country they're competing for.

The answer is not very straightforward, as it varies by country, and by sport. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not give out cash prizes, only a medal, and at the Paris Olympics, a box with a poster as well as a stuffed toy version of this year's mascot.

"Imagine if the IOC were to organize the Olympic Games on a for-profit business model," the IOC said in a statement to NBC . "The event would be limited to those sports that generate the most significant revenues, and it would not involve athletes representing teams from 206 [National Olympic Committees]. It would not be Olympic Games as we know them. Yet, it is precisely the tremendous range of sports and the global provenance of the athletes that distinguish the Olympic Games from other events and make them so successful. The Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition."

Many countries, however, do award their athletes based on whether or not they won a gold, silver, or bronze. Hong Kong pays the most: $768,000 for gold, $384,000 for silver, and $192,000 for bronze, followed by Singapore. American athletes who win gold receive $38,000; silver $23,000; and bronze $15,000. Some countries, including Great Britain and Norway, don't pay medalists any cash. (See a full breakdown at CNBC . )

Track and field athletes, in addition, will get a cash prize at this year's Paris Olympics; CNN reported that World Athletics, the governing body of track and field, will award gold medalists prize money: $50,000 to each winner. (Relay teams will also receive $50,000, to be split four ways.)

Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma , a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram .

@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1jdielu:before{margin:0.625rem 0.625rem 0;width:3.5rem;-webkit-filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);height:1.5rem;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-transform:scale(-1, 1);-moz-transform:scale(-1, 1);-ms-transform:scale(-1, 1);transform:scale(-1, 1);background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-1jdielu:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/townandcountrymag/static/images/diamond-header-design-element.80fb60e.svg);}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1jdielu:before{margin:0 0.625rem 0.25rem;}} Paris 2024 Olympics @media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-128xfoy:before{margin:0.625rem 0.625rem 0;width:3.5rem;-webkit-filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);height:1.5rem;content:'';display:inline-block;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-128xfoy:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/townandcountrymag/static/images/diamond-header-design-element.80fb60e.svg);}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-128xfoy:before{margin:0 0.625rem 0.25rem;}}

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Colman Noctor: Why do we ask children to do homework? 

There's no evidence of homework having any beneficial impact on primary school. So why are we pursuing it?

Pandemic anxieties in my therapy room have largely been replaced with the worries of a pending nuclear war. But there has also been a return of some old concerns. One such theme that has come up this week, possibly due to the improvement in the weather, has been the thorny issue of homework. This coincided with Taoiseach Micheál Martin announcing a 'no homework day' from Washington on March 24.

The topic of homework is one of the most common themes in child therapy. It's in the top five, alongside bullying, peer relationship difficulties, family conflict and academic/sporting pressure.

While the young people I speak to may represent the 'thin end of the wedge', my belief, based on the conversations I have had over the years with the children and their families, is that the cost of homework can far outweigh the projected benefits.

It's not about giving in to the wants of children

It is safe to assume that the majority of children dislike homework. But we mustn't give in to the 'wants' of children when it comes to life's challenges. Children need to know that life sometimes asks us to do unpleasant or challenging things. It is essential they learn to endure these challenges because there is a 'greater good' at play. It would not be in anyone's best interest to spare children from adversity, challenge or discomfort.

There needs to be a clear rationale for insisting on an unpleasant or arduous endeavour. For example, getting children to do chores around the house teaches them that dishes don't magically clean themselves, and the clothes fairy does not collect all the laundry at night. The concept of 'teamwork' that encourages children to take responsibility for collective family needs is to be encouraged.

However, I find it difficult to justify the rationale for homework. When children complain about homework, I struggle to find a counterargument. I tend to end up agreeing with them, saying, 'Yes, I know it is far more stressful than it is beneficial, but you just have to do it'. This is not a satisfactory response, but I pride myself on my honesty with the children I work with and feel it would be disingenuous to say anything else.

I have discussed the concept of homework with colleagues, teachers and parents many times. Still, I am not convinced by the arguments that homework is a runner from a cost-benefit perspective.

The argument in favour of homework

The first pro-homework argument is that homework 'trains' children to do work at home, so by Leaving Cert, they will have mastered the art of studying. But the opposite effect is also possible.

Being made to do homework for 13 years in preparation for a final state exam is likely to tarnish the child's relationship with school and education and lessen the probability of them doing 'more study'.

In my experience, most academically driven young people are self-starters. They are internally driven and not created. Human beings are motivated by desire and fear. Heavy homework workloads support the aspirations of the internally motivated self-starter and discourage the young person who is less driven and perhaps on the periphery of opting out of education. Overloading a young person who is already struggling to engage with self-directed work is like pushing a rock uphill - it simply does not work.

The second argument is that 'homework sets children up for life'. In what way? I don't get any homework. If I had to do extra work every day during my time off, I would not be best pleased. When I work after office hours, it is generally something I choose to do - I am not forced to do it. If it was something I felt forced to do, I would not do it to the best of my ability. Surely, we should be encouraging young people to engage meaningfully in activities rather than endorsing a task that is often done half-heartedly (or, in my case, on my lap while on the bus to school in the morning).

The third argument is that parents like to see where their children's academic progress is at. Some even report 'enjoying' doing homework with their children to monitor their progress. But this is an altogether different experience if your child is diligent, hard-working and able compared to the child who has learning needs, where homework is a battleground of tears, arguments and upset. The privilege of being able to glow at how your child's reading age is above average is not reason enough to justify homework. If you want to know where your child is at, ask their teacher. Homework is not an activity for the benefit of parents and nor should it be.

The fourth argument is that homework, in the case of younger children, is only tokenistic and therefore no big deal. But this has a flip side too. The idea that you have to have your evening/ afternoon disrupted to complete an innocuous piece of work can evoke ongoing resentment.

Days of motivating young people by fear have passed

I understand the need to encourage adolescents to engage in self-directed work in the run-up to exam years. But the fact that this needs to be introduced to primary school children is not something I can agree with, and the research supports this view. One of the most extensive studies exploring the benefits of homework was carried out by Harris Cooper in 2006. The researchers found that although there were minimal benefits to homework and academic performance, there was no evidence of it having any beneficial impact on primary school. So why are we pursuing it? The potential benefits of children having more time to play seems a far better use of their time.

With the lost time over the past two years, I worry that the pressure to 'catch up' will result in greater homework workloads, which runs the risk of amplifying children's resentment and anger, leading inevitably to less engagement and a negative relationship with lifelong education.

People may accuse me of being a 'soft touch' and pandering to children's demands, but the days of motivating young people by fear have passed. Engaging children through incentive and desire is a far more effective way to create behavioural change. 

The pandemic pause has offered us an opportunity to reassess our approach to homework. We need to meet children and young people 'where they are at' instead of where 'we want them to be'. In a world where children are overly sedentary, maybe homework could be replaced with initiatives that get children moving would be a possible alternative? And, who knows, perhaps a more engaging, self-directed, afterschool task would help them take ownership of their futures and reduce the feelings of resentment in the face of what they perceive as unreasonable demands.

• Dr Colman Noctor is a child psychotherapist 

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Students and parents plead case for homework ban

School children and parents pleaded with the Minister for Education Norma Foley to step in and introduce a homework ban.

In letters to the minister, kids wrote about how they were being forced to give up hobbies because they were given so much work to do after school.

The correspondence followed comments by President Michael D Higgins in January that a ban on homework should be considered.

In one letter, a school child wrote about how seven hours of school each day was “plenty of education” and that more work on top was unnecessary.

“I do not ask for homework to be completely banned but for it to be reduced to a certain limit. Otherwise, if there is a constant build-up of homework daily, it can cause stress and even a lack of exercise which will affect a person’s well-being.”

Another said they felt homework was a “waste of time” and that a ban should be introduced.

They wrote: “Kids should be doing more creative things with their time after school. Many kids have had to stop doing hobbies they have because of it.

“It is a burden to parents, kids, and teachers [and] so for the above reasons, I think you should BAN HOMEWORK!”

Homework annoys teachers

One hand-written letter, decorated with a Minnie Mouse bow, said homework was “annoying for teachers and pupils”.

“I play soccer and love writing stories, but because of homework, I have no time for doing these things. For teachers, it gives them more copies to correct and they have to go through the trouble of deciding what [homework] to give.”

A secondary school student said that if “sleeping isn’t for school” then “work isn’t for home”.

They explained how they did between one and two hours of homework every evening after school and sometimes more.

“When I would finish, there would be barely any time for me to relax before I had to go to bed to get enough sleep to get up in the morning,” said their letter.

“As I’m sure you’re aware, our president Michael D Higgins also thinks that homework should be banned so if you don’t want to listen to me, listen to our President.”

Another suggested there could at least be a compromise so that students would not be given homework for over the weekend.

“[This would relieve] students of mental stress,” they said.

Help parents

One young student said they were left with no time to help their parents, or to learn how to cook or do other activities around the house.

They said: “We all do activities like swimming, dance, and all other sports. It’s hard work and it’s stressful and it’s unfair.”

A single parent also wrote in to explain how one of their children was getting two hours of written homework every day.

They said: “We need time to teach them life skills such as sewing, cooking, how to work the washing machine, change their own bed sheets and personal care.

“These teachings are very hard for parents with zero [time] left in the evenings. There is no time for them to spend with siblings and parents because they are so tired.”

In responses, the Department of Education told the letter writers that homework policy was not within its powers.

In emails, they said: “The Department does not issue direct guidelines relating to homework being given in schools. It is a matter for each school, at local level, to arrive at its own homework policy.

“In keeping with good practice, the process of drafting a homework policy should involve consultation with teachers, parents, and students.

“However, the Department does acknowledge that homework can play an important part in helping pupils prepare for forthcoming class work and in reinforcing work already covered during class time.”

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When can we next see the Northern Lights?

This week, north-east England and Cumbria have been treated to two celestial delights: the Northern lights were visible, as was the Perseid meteor shower. People have pointed their cameras skyward and sent in their stunning night-sky photos from across the area. Meanwhile, experts in our region say there are even more spectacles on the horizon.

Lead astronomer at the Grassholme Observatory in County Durham, Gary Fildes, said it had been a really interesting week "because we've been exposed to two really super interesting phenomena".

"One of them is the Northern Lights, which is probably everybody's favourite," he said. "And then the other was the Perseid meteor shower, which is an annual event where we see an uptick in shooting stars."

When will we see the Northern Lights again?

The Northern Lights - or aurora borealis - were "difficult to predict", Mr Fildes said.

"But we're right at the peak time to see them."

• What are the Northern Lights? And how can you see them?

The sun is reaching a period of "solar maximum", where it becomes more and more magnetically active during an 11-year solar cycle.

Mr Fildes said: "We're not really sure how long this is going to last, but we could expect, maybe over the next year or two, that we would be at the peak activity of the sun being capable of producing the correct conditions so that we would see the Northern Lights here on Earth."

But people still need to do their homework to know when the Northern Lights will be visible.

The most impressive auroras occur when the sun emits large clouds of particles called "coronal mass ejections".

"If that happens, you get about two days' notice that these particles will arrive here on Earth and produce, potentially, these big huge magnetic storms."

Mr Fildes said it also "preferably" needs to be a moonless night, and it needs to be clear.

When will the next Perseid meteor shower be?

The Perseid meteor shower is an annual event, and will therefore next be visible in August 2025.

The Perseids pass through our atmosphere every year when the Earth orbits through debris left by the Swift-Tuttle comet.

What other celestial phenomenon will we see this year?

Mr Fildes said night sky watchers had plenty more to look forward to.

The Geminid meteor shower happens in mid-December every year, he said.

"This is the next big one, and it can produce upwards of 60 to 80 meteors per hour.

"It needs to be clear and they can be like buses, right? You don't see any at all, and then you'll wait 15 minutes and there's, like, four or five of them at once and it's pretty," Mr Fildes said.

The planets also make a return as we head into autumn, Mr Fildes said.

Saturn will become more visible on the horizon, "and then later on towards November time, we get the giant planet Jupiter and the beautiful red planet Mars joining in on the show", he said.

They can be seen through small telescopes.

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Watch: The Northern Lights seen from space

Northern lights illuminate skies as far south as cornwall, timelapse shows northern lights glowing above wisconsin.

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Irish students do WAY more homework than kids in other countries

IT’S OFFICIAL – IRISH kids have it tough.

Irish students have the second highest amount of homework to get through outside of class when compared to the rest of the world – according to a new study.

The data, compiled by the OECD on 15 year-old students, shows Irish school-goers do an average of 7.3 hours of homework per week – well ahead of every single other country in the study, apart from Italy.

The Italians are the only country ahead of Ireland on the list, with students there putting up with a massive 8.7 hours a week.

As the graph by Forbes shows, we are ahead of the US, France, Germany and nearly every other nation that was part of the worldwide study.

Finland highest education EU ranking yet only 2.8hrs homework p/wk. Ireland 2nd highest 7.3hrs http://t.co/8qRkeTuDd4 pic.twitter.com/501LMCyOi2 — Olivia O'Sullivan (@oliviaos) February 19, 2015

Quite the, eh, achievement for Ireland?

More  16 reasons you should always read over your kid’s homework>

More  student devises ingenious way of scoring 100% on exam>.

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• Defamation Damaging the good reputation of someone, slander, or libel.
• Racism or Hate speech An attack on an individual or group based on religion, race, gender, or beliefs.
• Trolling or Off-topic An attempt to derail the discussion.
• Inappropriate language Profanity, obscenity, vulgarity, or slurs.
• Spam Advertising, phishing, scamming, bots, or repetitive posts.

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