After the record-breaking success of last year, FÉILTE (the Festival of Education in Learning and Teaching Excellence) will again take place online, welcoming over 3,000 teachers and members of the public for the largest educational event in Ireland this Saturday, 2nd October.
Hosted by the Teaching Council of Ireland, and now in its ninth year, FÉILTE provides a unique platform for teachers to share innovative teaching techniques and network with each other and the public.
Building on the success of FÉILTE 2020, which pivoted online at the height of the pandemic, this year’s event will take place online to ensure ongoing health and safety for all. Details of the event were launched on Monday by Minister for Education Norma Foley, TD, together with the Teaching Council’s Chair, Seán McMahon and director, Tomás Ó Ruairc.
Phil Fox, Deputy Director of the Teaching Council, will host the event on the day and will moderate a live panel discussion on the overarching event theme ‘Transforming Teaching in a Sustainable World’.
A second afternoon panel facilitated by Tomás Ó Ruairc, Director of the Teaching Council will discuss creativity under the title ‘Reimagining Creative Spaces in Schools’.
While a Student Meet panel made up of primary, post-primary and further education newly qualified teachers and principals will discuss ‘Student Placement, online and in the classroom.’
TEACHING DAYS ‘STILL WITH ME’
In advance of Saturday’s event, Roddy Doyle, author and keynote speaker, said: “For a long time now, I’ve felt that becoming a teacher was the best decision I ever made. It’s twenty-eight years since I stopped teaching but those years in the classroom are still with me, always – in my writing, my priorities, in almost every aspect of my life.
“This is why I’m really looking forward to FÉILTE. I congratulate the Teaching Council on FÉILTE 2021 and I’m delighted to have been asked to deliver the keynote interview at the event.”
Attendees will be able to visit online showcases and workshops led by teachers that will cover a variety of themes including STEM, digital, collaborative practice, inclusion, cross curricular, languages, teaching methodologies, wellbeing and more.
Attendees can connect and interact throughout the entire event through a live FÉILTE chat portal and live video one-on-ones.
FÉILTE will have a special performance by Cappabue National from west Cork who will be performing their Schoolovision winning song ‘We Create Magic’. This immensely creative school have won the Schools Eurovision in 2021.
Seán McMahon, Chair of The Teaching Council, added: “FÉILTE allows for the creation of a forum where the teaching profession can be celebrated and further insights can be provided into innovative teaching practices. It is a great opportunity to engage with colleagues and participate in wellbeing activities, whilst also benefitting from professional development programmes.
“The Teaching Council is committed to supporting teachers and upholding the high standards of the teaching profession, and FÉILTE encapsulates this objective. I am really looking forward to attending this year.”
FÉILTE 2021 is open to teachers and the general public.
Tickets are free and now on general release, available at: https://hopin.com/events/feilte-2021
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