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State of the art screens boost learning at the Dublin dockers’ school

[ September 20, 2024   //   Chris Lewis ]

Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform Paschal Donohoe visited St Joseph’s Co-Ed School in East Wall, Dublin to announce the completion of a €140,000 IT refurbishment, courtesy of Dublin Port Company.

It includes the installation of interactive digital screens and three Special Education Classrooms throughout the school. The principal can make announcements through instant messaging and the screens can be used by any teacher.

Students can interact with the screens through laptops, which are already in use as part of day-to-day schoolwork.

The technology allows children to sharpen their problem-solving skills, more crucial than ever as the level of performance in maths among Irish students declined from 2018 to 2022, according to the OECD.

The refurbishment is part of Dublin Port Company’s MP2 Project, a strategic infrastructure development project to develop existing port lands as part of the Dublin Port Masterplan 2040. Minister Donohoe has already opened a new playground at St. Joseph’s as part of the project.

He said: “This state-of-the-art IT upgrade will give the children additional technological skills and capabilities and will make managing the school environment and communicating with staff and pupils so much easier. St. Joseph’s is going from strength to strength and I thank Dublin Port Company for their continued support to the local community.”

The Minister made special use of the network of interactive screens to formally announce across the school that there would be no homework on Monday. (Politicians will do anything to try to make themselves popular.)

Chief executive of Dublin Port Company, Barry O’Connell, commented:“Dublin Port is a vital hub for international trade, but it has also played a key role in the development of communities. We are delighted to continue our longstanding support of St Joseph’s and hope this technological upgrade should open up new opportunities for the next generation of East Wallers to make their own mark.

“East Wall has been synonymous with dock workers throughout the history of Dublin. A lot about shipping may have changed in the last century, but Dublin Port has not forgotten its ties to this wonderful community.”

Chairperson of the board of management at St. Joseph’s, Maureen O’Sullivan, added: “This is a great opportunity for the students of St. Joseph’s to add to their love of learning through cutting-edge technology that puts the student first. We thank Dublin Port Company for their support and engagement with the community.”

Tags: Port of Dublin