Indymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.
Fraud and mismanagement at University College Cork Thu Aug 28, 2025 18:30 | Calli Morganite
UCC has paid huge sums to a criminal professor
This story is not for republication. I bear responsibility for the things I write. I have read the guidelines and understand that I must not write anything untrue, and I won't.
This is a public interest story about a complete failure of governance and management at UCC.
Deliberate Design Flaw In ChatGPT-5 Sun Aug 17, 2025 08:04 | Mind Agent
Socratic Dialog Between ChatGPT-5 and Mind Agent Reveals Fatal and Deliberate 'Design by Construction' Flaw
This design flaw in ChatGPT-5's default epistemic mode subverts what the much touted ChatGPT-5 can do... so long as the flaw is not tickled, any usage should be fine---The epistemological question is: how would anyone in the public, includes you reading this (since no one is all knowing), in an unfamiliar domain know whether or not the flaw has been tickled when seeking information or understanding of a domain without prior knowledge of that domain???!
This analysis is a pretty unique and significant contribution to the space of empirical evaluation of LLMs that exist in AI public world... at least thus far, as far as I am aware! For what it's worth--as if anyone in the ChatGPT universe cares as they pile up on using the "PhD level scholar in your pocket".
According to GPT-5, and according to my tests, this flaw exists in all LLMs... What is revealing is the deduction GPT-5 made: Why ?design choice? starts looking like ?deliberate flaw?.
People are paying $200 a month to not just ChatGPT, but all major LLMs have similar Pro pricing! I bet they, like the normal user of free ChatGPT, stay in LLM's default mode where the flaw manifests itself. As it did in this evaluation.
AI Reach: Gemini Reasoning Question of God Sat Aug 02, 2025 20:00 | Mind Agent
Evaluating Semantic Reasoning Capability of AI Chatbot on Ontologically Deep Abstract (bias neutral) Thought
I have been evaluating AI Chatbot agents for their epistemic limits over the past two months, and have tested all major AI Agents, ChatGPT, Grok, Claude, Perplexity, and DeepSeek, for their epistemic limits and their negative impact as information gate-keepers.... Today I decided to test for how AI could be the boon for humanity in other positive areas, such as in completely abstract realms, such as metaphysical thought. Meaning, I wanted to test the LLMs for Positives beyond what most researchers benchmark these for, or have expressed in the approx. 2500 Turing tests in Humanity?s Last Exam.. And I chose as my first candidate, Google DeepMind's Gemini as I had not evaluated it before on anything.
Israeli Human Rights Group B'Tselem finally Admits It is Genocide releasing Our Genocide report Fri Aug 01, 2025 23:54 | 1 of indy
We have all known it for over 2 years that it is a genocide in Gaza
Israeli human rights group B'Tselem has finally admitted what everyone else outside Israel has known for two years is that the Israeli state is carrying out a genocide in Gaza
Western governments like the USA are complicit in it as they have been supplying the huge bombs and missiles used by Israel and dropped on innocent civilians in Gaza. One phone call from the USA regime could have ended it at any point. However many other countries are complicity with their tacit approval and neighboring Arab countries have been pretty spinless too in their support
With the release of this report titled: Our Genocide -there is a good chance this will make it okay for more people within Israel itself to speak out and do something about it despite the fact that many there are actually in support of the Gaza
China?s CITY WIDE CASH SEIZURES Begin ? ATMs Frozen, Digital Yuan FORCED Overnight Wed Jul 30, 2025 21:40 | 1 of indy
This story is unverified but it is very instructive of what will happen when cash is removed
THIS STORY IS UNVERIFIED BUT PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO OR READ THE TRANSCRIPT AS IT GIVES AN VERY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT A CASHLESS SOCIETY WILL LOOK LIKE. And it ain't pretty
A single video report has come out of China claiming China's biggest cities are now cashless, not by choice, but by force. The report goes on to claim ATMs have gone dark, vaults are being emptied. And overnight (July 20 into 21), the digital yuan is the only currency allowed.
The Saker >>
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony
Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony
Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony
RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony
Waiting for SIPO Anthony
Public Inquiry >>
Parse failure for http://humanrights.ie/feed/.
Last Retry Saturday September 20, 2025 00:04
Labour Sinks to Lowest Ever Poll Rating ? as Andy Burnham Fuels Starmer Challenge Rumours Fri Sep 19, 2025 17:00 | Will Jones
Labour has sunk to its lowest ever poll rating as Andy Burnham fuels rumours he is preparing to challenge Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership by refusing to commit to serving a full term as Greater Manchester Mayor.
The post Labour Sinks to Lowest Ever Poll Rating ? as Andy Burnham Fuels Starmer Challenge Rumours appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Oxford and Cambridge Drop Out of Top Three in University Rankings Because of ?Misguided Attempts at ... Fri Sep 19, 2025 15:00 | Will Jones
Oxford and Cambridge universities have?failed to get into the top three in the Times's prestigious annual university ranking for the first time, with experts blaming "misguided attempts at equality".
The post Oxford and Cambridge Drop Out of Top Three in University Rankings Because of “Misguided Attempts at Equality” appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Jeremy Corbyn?s New Hard Left Party Descends into Chaos as Zarah Sultana Says She?s Been ?Frozen Out... Fri Sep 19, 2025 13:16 | Will Jones
Jeremy Corbyn's new hard Left party has been plunged into chaos as his co-founder Zarah Sultana claimed she had been "frozen out" from the "sexist boys' club" and Corbyn threatened her with legal action.
The post Jeremy Corbyn’s New Hard Left Party Descends into Chaos as Zarah Sultana Says She’s Been “Frozen Out” of “Sexist Boys’ Club” appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Sadiq Khan?s Officials Suppressed Report Showing LTNs Don?t Cut Car Use Fri Sep 19, 2025 11:00 | Will Jones
Sadiq Khan?s officials suppressed taxpayer-funded research that showed low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) do not reduce car use after the London Mayor spent five years baselessly claiming LTNs are good for the planet.
The post Sadiq Khan’s Officials Suppressed Report Showing LTNs Don’t Cut Car Use appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Europe?s Days of Carbon Colonialism are Numbered Fri Sep 19, 2025 09:00 | Tilak Doshi
The delusional EU believes it can wield carbon tariffs as weapons. But its grandiloquent Net Zero scheme is destined to collapse under the weight of the bloc's utter economic irrelevance, says Tilak Doshi.
The post Europe’s Days of Carbon Colonialism are Numbered appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Lockdown Skeptics >>
national |
education |
event notice
Thursday October 23, 2008 18:54
by Gregor Kerr - member Dublin City North INTO & Workers Solidarity Movement - personal capacity
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Comments (15 of 15)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15This is a very worthy cause and does not just affect the teachers. Whilst each school is rumoured to be going to lose about 3 teachers (my school will probably lose five - out of 25), it is you (students) and your friends/brothers/sisters/daughters and other relations and aquaintances who will ultimately lose out.
* Bigger class sizes
* No more going away for sports, debates, drama, film screenings, guest speakers, visiting colleges, etc.
* Less resource hours/classes for those who with special needs
Please support this demonstration and see the following websites for more detailed information.
http://www.asti.ie
http://www.into.ie
http://www.tui.ie
Gregor - while dividing classes might happen in primary schools - it won't work at second level. I can see dozens of teachers going on 'certified' sick leave if they continuusly get dumped with extra students. Imagine a home ec class of 25 getting dumped into a woodwork room.
*Subjects such as Physics and Chemistries Grants will be abolished*
>:(
Student Teachers take note:
The Education cuts announced in the Budget last week will result in:
· The loss of 500 Language Support jobs (schools will only be allowed a maximum of 2 Language Support teachers no matter how many children they have who do not have English)
· The loss of up to 300 teaching posts as a result of the increase in class size (It’s important to remember that increasing class size doesn’t just mean one extra pupil in each class as things don’t break down that easily. Ireland will now have the largest class sizes in Europe)
· The loss of 60 ‘concessionary’ posts in schools which have disadvantaged status but are not part of DEIS
· The loss of a small number of posts as a result of a cancellation of secondments
This means that in total there will be at least 900 fewer primary teachers in the system next year.
Approximately 800 teachers will retire so the implication is that there will be NO jobs for any of the students leaving College in June and up to 200 teachers currently working will lose their jobs.
So Student Teachers need to get organised, come along to support this demo on Wednesday and help defeat these cuts
From INTO website
# Regional rallies against the cuts will be organised as follows:
* Saturday 8th November: Galway
* Saturday 15th November: Tullamore
* Saturday 22nd November: Cork
* Saturday 29th November: Donegal
* Saturday 6th December: Dublin
Free Education for Everyone (FEE) are supporting this demo and calling for all their members and supporters to attend.
FEE was set up in UCD last month to oppose the reintroduction of college fees.
To all concerned Citizens of Ireland,
In this bleak post-budget economic environment it is clear that there are many people in Ireland who are concerned for their family’s and their own future, and for the future of Ireland in general. And understandably so. It is bad enough when certain events occur in the globalized economy and society we live in which are beyond our and our government’s control. But when our own government demonstrates ineptitude in the way it manages our state finances, things go from bad to worse. People across the political divide agree that this government badly erred in its judgement with regard to a number of measures announced in the recent budget, not least those which seek to reform the system for medical cards for pensioners, and cutbacks in funding for education.
Now, I am not under the illusion that governing a country is a simple matter - and isn’t very easy to be an armchair critic. But this government failed to seize an opportunity in times of prosperity to save for the rainy day which has now arrived, and we haven’t even begun to see the worst of it. The point here is that this is a situation which could have been brought under control by this government if it had managed the state finances in a manner which the people would have expected and entrusted them to do.
Of all the flaws in the recent budget, the one that for me stands out the most is the cutbacks in education. The contradiction here is almost laughable. On one hand the Government claims that the “way forward” is to turn Ireland into a knowledge-based country and economy, and on the other through its fiscal policies it is creating conditions in education which will make such a lofty ambition seem unattainable. We have to provide the children of this country with the necessary tools and conditions to make the best of themselves, and this government doesn’t seem to acknowledge that fact. It is pity, as Ireland seemed to be marching forward into modernity, now it seems at though it is in reverse. We should all be concerned about the future of this country.
Should we not organize a protest and use the banner "This is Not the Way to Knowledge"?
Sincerely,
Barry Brennan
In connection with this great campaign for education and development in Africa, please see:
http://www.camara.ie/
and/or contact: mcgratmj@tcd.ie
Thanking You all, especially my former socialist comrades in Dublin,
Noel McGrath.
That's the slogan that is spreading like a rash in italy in connection with protests against education cutbacks. Would work here too methinks.
From the occupied faculties of the La Sapienza, from the University in mobilization, Rome.
http://www.nettime.org/Lists-Archives/nettime-l-0810/ms....html
I am a mum of five (Including two dyslexics and another learning disabled child) I am also a teacher. I don't feel it necessary to go over the terrible consequences for all children as a result of this budget. (Other commentators have covered this) I would remind everyone that the education system in this country already falls short in many ways and cannot afford to go under the axe. I do worry that the message isn't getting out... in our local paper the overriding concern of the people on the street was still the price of a packet of fags... hopefully by protesting against the cuts we will get the message out there. I don't believe our politicians who after all are elected to represent the people give a damn and I am cynical enough to reckon that protests and petitions only rattle their cages. We really have to persuade people to get them where it matters most to them...and stop voting them in! (irrespective of party) I hope the government will see sense and not willfully ignore the need for increased spending in education. If not I hope the people of this country will stop making excuses for politicians and aboveall stop voting them in!!!
Today the People Before Profit Alliance held a protest outside the Green Party meeting on education cuts. Members from Crumlin, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin Central, Dublin South City and Ballyfermot gathered outside the Central Hotel on Exchequer Street to protest at savage cuts in education announced in the recent budget.
Councillor Joan Collins (Crumlin/Drimnagh- CWAG & PBPA) & Richard Boyd Barrett (People Before Profit (PBPA), Dun Laoghaire) joined around 25 other protesters who made their feelings known to Green Party TD's as they made their way into the meeting.
The People Before Profit Alliance support tomorrows protest called for by teacher unions for a full reversal of planned education cuts.
See coverage on TV3 news at:
http://www.tv3.ie/news.php?video=2046
RTE coverage on the issue:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1028/budgeteducation_av.htm...l,230
Let's hope there aren't similar protests (or worse) at the Green Party National Black Tie Ball in Carlow next week www.indymedia.ie/article/89627
I know there's already been one large scale student protest but are any of the elected crowd giving their official support to those outside of third-level? It's one way for students not to appear selfish.
My daughter is in a 6th year maths class of 32 students! We received a booklet from the school outlining the effects of the cutbacks and it stated the student : teacher ratio would be increased from 18 per teacher to 19 per teacher..this makes no sense? Also my son is currently doing Transition Year and we have been told that parents may now be expected to pay an additional 150euro (on top of the 300 already paid) as there are insufficent funds for trips, sporting activities etc. I'am absolutly appauled!
Mary,
You are right to be appalled by the cuts to education that were announced in the budget. Just like your daughter in a class of 32, I teach a class of higher level Leaving Cert. English students of 31.
The confusion about having such a big class if the class size should be 18-1 is because the 18-1 is actually for the average class in the school. It is calculated by getting the number of students in a school and dividing it by 18; this lets the school know how many teachers they can have in the school the next year.
In practice it means that some classes might have only 5 or six students (art or Technical Graphics, in our school for example) whilst others have 31 or 32 (as you and your daughter well know).
And of course what is even worse is that the ratio for Transition Year and Leaving Cert. Applied is to be increased from 16-1 to 17-1 which is actually a more drastic cut than the 18-1 going to 19-1 is.
I hope this 1) clears things up for you, and 2) gets you mad enough to contact your local paper/councillor/TD/senator/neighbour.
Regards,
Mark Conroy.