Science subjects

Minister urges students to consider studying science subjects

ST BRENDAN’S
Anton McNulty

SECOND LEVEL students were encouraged to seriously consider taking science subjects for their Leaving Cert by the Minister for Education, in order to continue to attract investment into the country.
Minister Mary Hanafin made her appeal at the official sod-turning of the €6.2 million redevelopment of St Brendan’s College in Belmullet. When complete the school will have modern, well-equipped facilities including a range of new rooms for woodwork, construction studies, art, a new library, a language laboratory, construction design room, two new science labs, a computer room, a new technical graphics room and a new staff room. A new sports hall will also be built on the grounds of the school which will also be available to the local community.
Minister Hanafin was greeted at the school gates last Friday by a guard of honour comprising of students of the school and by its Principal, Ms Sabina Munnelly, Chairman of the school’s Board of Management, Mr Padraig Cosgrove, Chairman of Mayo VEC, Mr Pat Kilbane and Dr Katie Sweeney, CEO of Mayo VEC.
Addressing the school, Minister Hanafin said the country was facing challenges from countries with expanding economies like China and India but said that Ireland was still able to attract investment into the country. However, she encouraged students to study science and technology subjects if they wanted Ireland to to continue to be a leader in the knowledge economy.
“Two months ago I was lucky enough to have dinner with Bill Gates and I said to him ‘What do you need from our graduates in the future?’. He said he wanted the top five per cent in science and technology and I am encouraging you, as part of the long-term economic strategy in this country, to seriously consider your options in science and technology. We have a knowledge economy and that is why all these investments are coming in. Each of the opportunities that you avail of here in St Brendan’s prepares you to face the challenges that are out there,” she said.
Minister Hanafin paid tribute to the teachers and the students of St Brendan’s for achieving the highest standards in education. She said the refurbishment of the school marked an important stage in allowing the students to access the highest quality and broadest ranging curriculum.
“I would like to pay tribute to Ms Munnelly and all the teachers here, who give so willingly of their skills and talents both within and outside the classroom. Through your teaching staff here, you can be what you want to be, but at the end of the day it is your belief in yourself and your confidence in yourself which will help you get there.”
Ms Sabina Munnelly, Principal of the school, welcomed the Minister to St Brendan’s and thanked her for sanctioning the funding for the school. She paid tribute to the past pupils and staff of the school, especially the former principal, Paddy Conroy, who first recognised the need for the refurbishment of the school. She said the school had a positive atmosphere and hoped that would continue.
“There are many aspects to life in this school and the happiness of the entire school community is at the centre of the school ethos. Minister, I heard you say that your aim is for a happy school; well today, Minister, you are visiting our happy school. In this school we have no barriers in our way and I suppose the sky’s the limit,” she said.