VEC turns to North as it can’t fill language teacher jobs
Deireadh Fómhair 25, 2012
A SHORTAGE of language teachers has forced schools to advertise for staff in Northern Ireland.
Although thousands of teachers are struggling for work, Co Louth Vocational Education Committee (VEC), which runs five schools, has advertised vacancies in the ‘Belfast Telegraph’ newspaper.
The ad, placed last Monday, is seeking German and Spanish teachers as well as those who can teach a range of subjects through the medium of Irish, starting next September. Co Louth VEC chief executive officer Padraig Kirk said their schools were experiencing “significant difficulties” in recruiting qualified teachers.
Border
The VEC, which has also had problems recruiting teachers of French and Russian, looked over the Border after two ads placed in the Republic failed to fill the vacancies.
The problem is not unique to Co Louth and Ferdia Kelly of the Joint Managerial Body, representing secondary school management, said shortages had been noted in recent years.
Meanwhile, Dublin schools could find it difficult to get Irish teachers, Clive Byrne of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals said. New regulations ensuring schools recruit only qualified and registered teachers may be contributing to the difficulties. Previously, a school may have fallen back on a teacher who was proficient in a subject but not properly qualified.
www.independent.ie
Tús le Teanga is Cultúr 1+2
Deireadh Fómhair 24, 2012
Tá lúcháir ar Choláiste an Phobail, an Rannóg Oideachais i gCultúrlann Uí Chanáin, scéim iontach, atá maoinithe ag Foras na Gaeilge, a chur ar fáil arís i mbliana do pháistí áitiúla a bhfuil suim acu sa Ghaeilge.
“Tús le Teanga is Cultúr” an t-ainm atá ar an chúrsa seo, agus tá sé ar ais arís i mbliana do pháistí áitiúla idir 5-11 bliana d’aois. Tabharfaidh an cúrsa seo deis do Pháistí áitiúla atá ag freastal ar Bhunscoileanna Béarla ár dteanga dúchas a fhoghlaim agus cultúr na hÉireann a bhlaiseadh trí imeachtaí éagsúla ar a bhfuil ceol, amhránaíocht, drámaíocht, scéalaíocht, ealaín agus damhsa. Bhí an-ráchairt ar an scéim seo anuraidh agus mar geall ar an éileamh sin, beidh muid ábalta 2 leibhéil a sholáthar arís i mbliana, ceann acu do dhream páistí nua agus ceann acu do na páistí a d’fhreastail ar an scéim anuraidh. Is cúrsaí cúig seachtaine déag iad seo agus tosóidh siad ar an 10ú Samhain sa Chultúrlann. Beidh costas £5 ar na cúrsaí seo agus níl ach 30 spás ag gach leibhéal, moltar go gcláraítear pháistí gan mhoill mar geall ar seo.
Tá fáilte roimh dhuine ar bith a bhfuil suim aige sna cúrsaí seo bualadh isteach am ar bith agus clárú do cheann dár ranganna. Déan teagmháil le Fiachra chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil: Fiachra@culturlann-doire.ie nó cuir scairt ar: +44(0)2871264132.
Féile na Samhna ag Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin
Deireadh Fómhair 24, 2012
Luíonn diabhlaíocht dhraíochta thart ar gach coirnéal ag Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin le linn Fhéile na Samhna.
Beidh fearadh na fáilte roimh thaiscéalaithe cróga chuig an Acadamh Hocus Pocus don té ag a bhfuil bua ealaíonta agus draíochtúil idir 11:00 agus 4:00 ar an Chéadaoin 31ú Deireadh Fómhair. Beidh comórtas péintéireachta puimcín agus ranganna ag déanamh olagais agus orthaí ar siúl chomh maith. Thig le gach duine, idir pháistí agus dhaoine fásta, bheith ag éisteacht le scéalta síofrógacha ó sheanchaithe cónaitheacha s’againn a bheidh anseo ó 1-2pm chun na scéalta scanrúla ó sheanÉire a aithris. Bí ar d’fhaichill ar na cailleacha dalba cónaithe a bhíonn ag bruíonachas!
Mar chríoch, beidh scannán scanrúil agus péintéireacht aghaidhe ar fáil don teaghlach iomlán.
Tuilleadh eolais ar fáil ó www.culturlann-doire.ie nó cuir scairt ar 02871264132
Cuireadh chuig seoladh Bhreacadh ag Oireachtas 2012
Deireadh Fómhair 24, 2012
Comórtas BEO!
Deireadh Fómhair 24, 2012
Tá scoilbhliain úr linn arís agus tá BEO! arais arís bliain eile. Bunaíodh BEO! i 2009 i Leitirceanainn le deis a thabhairt do dhaoine óga san Iarthuaisceart ceol beo a chloisteáil ar leac an dorais. Mar is eol dúinn tá neamart déanta san Iarthuaisceart ó thaobh ceoil de. Tá líne tarraingthe trasna ó Ghaillimh go Béal Feirste nuair a thagann sé fhad le ceolchoirmeacha. Téann bannaí ceoil ar chamchuairteanna ó Bhaile Átha Cliath go Port Láirge go Corcaigh go Gaillimh agus díreach trasna go Béal Feirste ag fágáil lucht leannúna ceoil san taobh seo tíre le éad orthu agus turais fhada lena gcuid réaltaí a fheiceáil. Fís atá agus a bhí in BEO le ceol beo a thabhairt go dtí an ceantar le seans a thabhairt do dhaoine óga bannaí úra atá amuigh ansin a fheiceáil i Leitirceanainn don chéad uair. Le 3 bliana anuas anois tá scoth na mbannaí ceoil indiaidh bheith ar an Ardán san Ionad Cultúrtha anseo i Leitirceanainn, ina measc seo tá na Dirty 9’s, Not Squares, More Than Conquerors, Storyfold, Jamaican Vampires, Go Panda Go, In Their Thousands, Disconnect 4, Na Ghandhis, Lost Chord, The Minutes, Le Galaxie, Redwood Avenue, Mojo Gogo, The Capitol, Bamboo Party agus na Wonder Villians i measc roinnt eile. Bhain achán duine sult mhór as na bannaí ceoil seo uilig agus tá roinnt acu le cloisteáil go rialta ar na staisiúin radio in Éirinn agus sa Bhreatain.
Seans ar doigh atá i BEO le tathaí a thabhairt don aos óg a gcuid ceolchoirmeacha féin a eagrú ó thús go deireadh. Bhí an chéad chomórtas de BEO ann an scoilbhliain seo caite agus bhí an tadh ar Ghairmscoil Choláiste Bhaile An Droichid as Loch Garman an bua a bheith acu agus an duais iontach do €5,000 a bheith leo abhaile. I mbliana bhí lainseáil comórtas BEO ar siúl i Loch Garman oíche Aoine seo caite an 19ú Deireadh Fómhar agus chuaigh slua mór as an Iarthuaisceart ar thuras fada le bheith i lathair ag an lainseáil. I measc na mbannaí ceoil a bhí ar an ardán oíche Aoine bhí na Jamaican Vampires as Leitirceanainn agus ard mholadh a fháil acu ó Jackie Hayden as Hotpress a bhí i lathair ar an oíche agus a bhí ar cheann dena moltóirí don chomórtas anuraidh. Tá muid ag súil go mór leis an gcomórtas i mbliana agus tá muid ag dréim leis a bheith i bhfad níos mo ná mar a bhí sé anuraidh agus é fás ó bhliain go bliain amach anseo. Ba mhaith linn buíochas a thabhairt do achán duine atá ag tabhairt tacaíocht do BEO ar dhoigh ar bith agus go leanann siad ar aghaidh ar feadh na blianta amach romhainn.
Tús curtha le hathleasú pátrúnachta i scoileanna na tíre
Deireadh Fómhair 24, 2012
Chuir an tAire Oideachais Ruairí Quinn tús leis an chéad chéim i dtreo bunscoileanna i 44 ceantar a dhífheistiú ó stiúir na hEaglaise Caitlicí de bharr éilimh mhór i measc tuismitheoirí ag lorg córas pátrúnachta a oireann dá gcuid riachtanas.
Chun go cinnteofar go mbeidh mianta an phobail san áireamh, tá suirbhé anois á scaipeadh i measc tuismitheoirí i gcúig cheantar ina bhfuil scoileanna faoi stiúir na hEaglaise Caitlicí le dul faoi phátrúnacht úr: An tInbhear Mór, Caisleán an Bharraigh, Fionnbhrú, Baile Átha Troim agus an Trá Mhór.
Cuirfear tús le scaipeadh na suirbhéanna sa 39 ceantar eile an mhí seo chugainn agus táthar ag súil go mbeidh pátrúin úra curtha i ngníomh faoi mhí Mheán Fómhair na bliana seo chugainn má chuireann an líon ceart tuismitheoirí a dtuairimí in iúl.
Is iad An Foras Pátrúnachta; Educate Together; an VEC; National Learning Network; agus Redeemed Christian Church of God na pátrúin a bheidh ag dul san iomaíocht don chúig cheantar seo agus tá treoirlínte géara curtha i bhfeidhm ag an Roinn Oideachais do na patrúin i dtaobh láimhseála chun go scaipfear eolas i measc tuismitheoirí ar bhealach ceart agus cothrom.
Sa suirbhé, a bheidh á scaipeadh den chuid is mó ar líne, iarrfar ar thuismitheoirí más mian leo réimse níos leithne de phátrúin ar scoileanna, ansin iarrfar orthu vóta a dhéanamh in ord tosaíochta ar na patrúin atá tar éis suim a thaispeáint i dtaobh scoileanna a stiúradh ina gceantair. Iarrfar ar thuismitheoirí chomh maith ar mhian leo scoileanna aon ghnéis nó scoileanna comh-oideachais.
Anuas air sin beidh deis ag tuismitheoirí a léiriú ar mhian leo a bpáistí a chur chuig scoil Béarla nó lán-Ghaeilge.
Is é An Foras Pátrúnachta an príomh-rogha maidir le pátrúnacht do thuismitheoirí ar mhian leo an ghaelscolaíocht agus an tumoideachas a chur chun cinn ina gceantar féin. Tá 61 bunscoil agus 3 meánscoil faoi phátrúnacht an Forais faoi láthair agus na daltaí sna scoileanna sin tumtha sa Ghaeilge ón gcéad lá a fhreastalaíonn siad.
“Tá An Foras Pátrúnachta ábalta freastal ar na mianta éagsúla atá ag tuismitheoirí ó thaobh oideachas lán-Ghaeilge agus sainspiorad Ilchreidmheach, Idirchreidmheach nó Caitliceach.” a dúirt Ard-Rúnaí An Fhorais Phátrúnachta, Caoimhín Ó hEaghra.
Tá an tAire Ruairí Quinn ag iarraidh ar thuismitheoirí an suirbhé a chomhlíonadh roimh 9 Samhain 2012. Tá gach eolas maidir leis an athleasú pátrúnachta ar fáil ar www.foras.ie agus is féidir teacht ar leagan leictreonach den suirbhé ar www.education.ie.
GAELPORT.COM
Schools under new patrons ‘by September’
Deireadh Fómhair 23, 2012
Patrons to change if survey shows demand, says Quinn
PRIMARY SCHOOLS could be under new patronage by next September if sufficient numbers of parents decide they want it, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has said.
Parents in five areas where there are a considerable number of primary schools will be given that choice through an online survey.
The parents of both preschool and primary-school children in Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall are being asked to identify their preferred school patron. They will be asked to complete surveys stating their preferences for the type of local school they would like their children to attend. The results will be presented to the Catholic Church, which has said that if enough parents in certain areas decide they want a different patron for a school, they will hand over that patronage.
The move is the first step in a process i n which schools in 44 areas could be divested of the control of the Catholic Church. The areas in question are those where there is a stable population and a clear demand for a greater diversity of school types. The other 39 areas will be surveyed from next month.
Mr Quinn said the purpose of the survey of the five areas was to ensure the online process was carried out properly before it was extended to other areas. He expects the results will be available by the end of the year and the first change of patronage will happen “next September or the following September” if everything goes according to agreed procedures.
Fr Michael Drumm, chairman of the Catholic Schools Partnership, said they would abide by the survey results, even though they would have preferred a paper rather than an online survey because many parents do not have access to the internet.
“We would of course facilitate change where there is real demand for it,” he told RTÉ Radio’s News at One programme.
He said that if only a small number of parents respond to the survey, the partnership would take that as a signal that the rest were happy with the status quo. He also stressed the survey could not be regarded as a plebi-scite or a vote on future patronage.
The National Parents Council urged parents to participate in the survey so the results could truly reflect the wishes of the local communities. Educate Together chief executive Paul Rowe described the survey as “a milestone in providing for diversity in Irish education”.
He predicted that it would lead to the transfer of patronage of a small number of Catholic schools to Educate Together where there is parental demand to do so. He said parents in the five areas questioned would be “greatly encouraged” their preferred school type may not be far away with the Minister’s announcement. The bodies which have expressed interest in becoming patrons of divested schools in the five areas are An Foras Pátrúnachta, the patron body for Gaelscoileanna in Ireland; Educate Together; VECs; the National Learning Network; and the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
The survey process will be overseen by the independent New Schools Establishment Group. The Department of Education will publish detailed reports on the survey outcomes. If the surveys identify demand for alternative patronage in these areas, the department will explore with the existing patrons the transfer of patronage of schools.
The survey is available at www.education.ie.
www.irishtimes.com
‘To see real educational apartheid, look no farther than your local Gaelscoil’
Deireadh Fómhair 23, 2012
A PARENT WRITES: It’s far from certain whether any move to withdraw State funding from private schools will address the problem of educational inequality, but it seems there is now the political appetite to rattle a system that has enjoyed the best of both worlds for too long.
I suspect the move, if it happens, will be a financial manoeuvre rather than an attempt to redistribute privilege in Irish society. If policymakers were genuinely interested in democratising State-funded education they would do well to take a cool look at the Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcoláistí. Irish language schools are getting away with worse levels of educational apartheid than any private schools. These schools may purport to welcome children of all nationalities, classes and intellectual abilities but the language throws up a natural forcefield that deflects students from various constituencies.
Living as I do in a middle-class area of south Dublin, I know many parents who have opted to send their children to Gaelscoileanna. Not one of these parents is a Gaelgóir – all complain that they are not equipped to help their children with homework or even to engage in the mildest level of Irish conversation at home. There is no grá for the language here – these parents are choosing these schools because their children will be educated among Irish citizens from well-to-do backgrounds.
These are well-informed people with the cop-on to get their child’s name on a list at birth. They have the comfort of knowing that their child will not have to muck in with students whose second language is English, with Travellers or with others who would simply never consider a Gaelscoil for a slew of socioeconomic reasons. This exclusivity is naturally reproduced into second-level Gaelcoláistí, which tend to give first preference to children from the Gaelscoil sector.
As for special education, I’m willing to bet that, if anyone cared to review the situation, there are fewer children with special needs in Irish-language schools than in others. Socioeconomic profiling would account for this in the large part, but there’s more to it. Why are children with learning disabilities in English language schools entitled to apply for an exemption from Irish? Because it’s very hard to learn if you have dyslexia or other learning disabilities. Another natural barrier at the gate of the Gaelscoil.
It is the right of every citizen to choose the type of education they want for their child. If a parent wants an exclusively Irish education for their child then they should have to pay for it. Like the private schools, I don’t believe the Irish taxpayer should be forced to stump up for schools that can only ever accommodate a very narrow layer of Irish society.
This column is designed to give a voice to those within the education system who wish to speak out anonymously. Contributions are welcome; email sflynn@irishtimes.com
www.irishtimes.com
Feighlí Páistí
Deireadh Fómhair 22, 2012
Feighlí páistí (le Gaeilge) á lorg do phost lán aimseartha (4 nó 5 lá in aghaidh na seachtaine) i lár na cathrach i mBaile Átha Cliath.
Tá beirt ghasúir sa teaglach (cailín 4 bliana agus buachaill 1 ½).
Tús leis an bpost i lár Mí Eanáir 2012.
Coiníollacha maithe.
Má tá spéis agat sa phost seol ríomhphost le sonraí teagmhála agus CV iniata chuig feighlipaistibac@gmail.com.
Cúntóir Ranga
Deireadh Fómhair 22, 2012
Tá Bunscoil Naomh Bríd ag cuartú Cúntóir Ranga ar feadh 25 /30 uair in aghaidh na seachtaine.
Mairifidh tréimhse an phoist go dtí deireadh mí an Mheithimh 2012.
Cainteoirí Gaeilge amháin atá ag teastáil.
Más mian leat tuilleadh eolais, déan teagmháil leis an phríomhoide, Patricia ar 028 7964 3346.
