Greg Tarr, who has recently turned 18, was named the overall winner of at the 57th BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) after entering the competition consecutively for the last five years.

THE parent of a child with Down syndrome has criticised the Government for what she described as sending out “mixed messages” after plans to reopen special schools from today were abandoned.

TALKS between the Department of Education, Fórsa, and Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) on plans to reopen schools are set to resume this morning.

INTO President Mary Magner has reiterated her union’s desire to continue engaging with all the relevant stakeholders to ensure primary schools can open in a safe manner in the near future.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has refused calls to intervene in the row over reopening schools for special needs students, and backed under-fire Minister Norma Foley.

The education minister has accused a teachers' union of being "incredibly disingenuous" over claims that it did not instruct its members not to return to schools.

THE INTO central executive committee (CEC) is to meet today where it will again discuss plans to resume in-school special education later this week.

The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) has called on the Department of Education to reconsider their plan to resume in-school special education this week.

SECONDARY schools in Cork have reported a “successful” and “positive” experience with online learning as they head into the second week of at-home tuition of 2021 for students.

A CORK TD has urged the Minister for Education to resolve outstanding issues to ensure the reopening of schools for children with special educational needs.

A union that represents Ireland’s special needs assistants (SNAs) has said that an agreement has not yet been reached on plans for the reopening of schools for children with special needs.

Professor Eugene C. Freuder, from University College Cork, has been recognised with the world's premier award in the field of artificial intelligence. Prof.

A Macroom secondary school pupil has been honoured for examining the psychological and social impact of face masks.

THE CEO of The Rainbow Club Cork Centre for Autism has welcomed the plans to commence a phased return to school for children with special needs.

A CORK TD has called on the Minister for Education to publish the contingency plans in place for the Leaving Certificate, and to be “transparent and honest” with students.

Children in special classes in primary schools and who attend special needs schools look set to return to the classroom on a phased basis from next Thursday.

Further Education Minister Simon Harris has confirmed an additional 50,000 places in further education and training courses will be created this year.

The Government has performed a U-turn on plans for Leaving Cert students to attend school for three days each week. Final-year students will now engage in remote learning for five days a week until the end of January.

There has been a mixed reaction to the announcement that schools will remain closed for the rest of the month at least, while Leaving Certificate students can attend three days per week.

Update: Cork North Central TD Mick Barry this morning called for the cancellation of the 2021 Leaving Cert exams.

Cork school principals have called for the Government to make a firm decision on the reopening of schools as preparations for a potential learning from home outcome need to be made.

A decision must be made on the reopening of schools to reassure ‘terrified ’ parents and staff. It comes as Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said it is likely that a decision will be made tomorrow on when to reopen schools.

A Cork youth worker has called for consultation with young people on the reopening of schools next week following an online poll which highlighted concern among Cork students.

CORK TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD, has said that there is increasing doubt among the public regarding the proposed return to schools on January 11.

AS Barry O’Connor steps down as president of Cork Institute of Technology, he is confident that the college is in a secure and healthy position. Yesterday saw the establishment of the Munster Technological University (MTU).

CORK preschool owner Minna Murphy has said the Government should have acted quicker to allow early years providers to delay their return to work in January.

PUPILS at a Cork primary school spread festive cheer and kindness with a Christmas fundraiser in aid of two local charities.

SECONDARY school teachers are looking for assurances that it will be safe for schools to reopen following the spike in Covid-19 numbers and the confirmation of a new variant in Ireland which may be more infectious among young people.

A new post-primary school will be established in Ballincollig to meet the growing demand for school places by September 2021.

Sometimes dreams do come true! That was the feeling at Dunderrow National School outside Kinsale when football hero Roy Keane dropped by to everyone's surprise.

THE Lord Mayor of Cork Joe Kavanagh has paid tribute to Scoil Mhuire agus Eoin principal, Regina O’Sullivan who will retire from the school on Tuesday following 38 years of dedicated service at the Mayfield national school.

A Cork-based education leader has called on the Government to better communicate public health Covid-19 messages to students and parents.

CORK Life Centre Director Don O’Leary was very pleased following his meeting with the education committee in Leinster House on Thursday, December 17.

KILMEEN National School in Clonakilty didn't let a pandemic dampen their Christmas spirit as the primary school found a novel way around their inability to stage this year's annual school concert.

THE director of Cork Life Centre, Don O’Leary, will appear before members of the education committee in Leinster House today to appeal for formal recognition of the work of the centre as an alternative provider.

DAVIS College are leading the way in creating safe spaces for LGBTI+ students by becoming the first school in Cork to take part in a new national project. Davis College.

The President of the country's newest university, the Munster Technological University (MTU), has been announced today by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD.

A CORK teenager is making huge sacrifices to protect his mother during the Covid-19 pandemic, separating himself from his classmates and teammates.

A CORK TD has warned that there is an “alarming lack of places” available in special schools in Cork city and county, with many that are in place sporting waiting lists of five years.

UCC has announced plans to operate its second semester in a similar manner to the first, where a significant proportion of teaching has been delivered online. For their first semester, the university remained open with restrictions in place.

Munster Technological University (MTU) will officially be instated from January 1, 2021 after Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris signed an order to dissolve CIT and IT Tralee on Wednesday.

A world-leading academic professor is set to join UCC from the University of Alberta in Canada in leading a €3. 7 million research programme.

THE Cork-based president of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI), has called for clarity on the 2021 Leaving Certificate exams amid concerns that some students due to sit the exams next year may currently be being over-assessed.

A TEAM of UCC academics who worked on a sustainable education project for Honduran children is hoping it could form a template for similar projects in other poor countries.

TWO Transition Year students in Bandon have come up with a new product to store sports gear safely and tidily in the home. Sports enthusiasts Emily Barry and Kate O’Connor, students at Coláiste na Toirbhirte, saw there was a need for such a product.

A MATURE student in UCC has said college is a lot more difficult since going online.

THE HSE said it closed Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil in Glanmire until December 8 as a “precautionary measure” after 17 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed among five classes this week.

Three young people from across Cork took to the virtual stage recently as participants in the third annual Child Talks event.

A BURSARY fund for Cork students, in the name of two former Lord Mayors, has been suggested to the Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris.

Students and staff at Coláiste Éamann Rís have been showing their support for the LGBTI+ community this week with a host different events, activities and plenty of colour.