Minister’s statement on enrolment practices in Irish-medium schools based on inaccurate information
April 5, 2013
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. has expressed disappointment at the statement made by the Minister for Education and Skills on the review of enrolment policies in schools, as reported in the Irish Independent on the 4th of April under the headline “Irish language schools targeted over restrictive entrance rules”. The reported statement alleged restrictive practices in the enrolment process in Irish-medium primary and post-primary schools.
The Minister recently announced that a draft bill is to go before the Oireachtas to legislate for enrolment and entrance policies in all schools. According to the Minister’s statement, the basis of the draft bill will be that, among other things, there will be a single system for every type of school, regardless of the language ethos of the school. The draft bill arises from consultations between the Minister and education partners in 2011, in which GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. took part. The submission made by GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. to the Department of Education and Skills on this matter confirmed that Irish-medium schools have an open and comprehensive system where children from all backgrounds are welcome. The submission recognised the challenge presented by the level of demand for places in some schools, which means that not every child who applies for a place can be given the opportunity to be educated through the medium of Irish. In the case of these schools in particular, the submission recognised the necessity of protecting the language policy and ethos of the school.
The statement reported in the Irish Independent demonstrated a profound misunderstanding of the system. The schools’ practice shows clearly that Irish-medium schools welcome families with all levels of ability in the Irish language as well as families who don’t speak any Irish but who have an interest in the language, a direct contradiction of the Minister’s statement as reported. The president of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO., Máirín Ní Chéileachair, has questioned the research on which the statement was based and she has recommended that “the real cause of the problem be addressed, which is that the availability of school places does not meet demand. If there were sufficient school places to meet the huge demand for Irish-medium education there would not be a need to legislate for this. This legislation will impact on the 30% of Irish-medium primary schools and 20% of Irish-medium post-primary schools that cannot cater for the demand for places in their schools. Instead of increasing provision, a long-term solution that would satisfy the wishes of parents seeking Irish-medium education for their children, the schools are being accused of restrictive practice and elitism.” The same article in the Irish Independent stated incorrectly that there are around 100 Irish-medium post-primary schools in Ireland; there are just 35 in the Republic of Ireland, 5 in Northern Ireland and 21 teaching through Irish in Gaeltacht areas.
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. will continue to consult directly with the Minister, the Department of Education and Skills and public representatives on this matter to ensure that the Irish language and Irish-medium education are fairly represented.
Further information:
Máirín Ní Chéileachair, President, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.
0872861655 | mairinnicheileachair@gmail.com
Nóra Ní Loingsigh, Vice CEO, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.
01 8535191 | nora@gaelscoileanna.ie
Seachtain na Gaeilge in the Quay School Westport goes viral
April 5, 2013
The students of the Quay School in Westport who took part in Mamma Mia as Gaeilge.
The Quay School in Westport was taken totally by surprise last week when a short video recording they made as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge was viewed almost 8,000 times.
As part of Seachtain na Gaeilge a large range of activities was organised to take place in the school over several days. These activities included setting up an Irish speaking restaurant in the school for a day, recording children presenting the “School News” and hosting several traditional music sessions in the school hall. A teoraíocht taisce (treasure hunt) was organised for third and fourth classes and younger children took part in bingo – as Gaeilge.
The whole idea of organising these activities was to present Irish language and culture in a fun way for children to use. The enthusiasm of the children was electric. Congratulations to the children and teachers involved and in particular to Katrina Chambers for her work in co-ordinating the different activities.
For one of these activities, the sixth class pupils worked with their class teacher, Susan Murray, to produce a version of Mamma Mia, as Gaeilge. Numerous practice sessions took place in the school over the course of the week, and on Friday, Mamma Mia was ready.
All of the children in the school were invited to the school hall and sixth class dressed in 1970s style clothing. There was a really wonderful atmosphere in the hall as Mamma Mia was performed and a short recording of the performance was added to the school website.
Over the course of the weekend, a large number of past pupils logged onto the school website and emailed messages of congratulations to the children.
www.advertiser.ie/mayo
Gaelscoil enrolment
April 5, 2013
It has recently been revealed that the Education Minister Ruairi Quinn intends to review the selection process in schools.
In the near future we will most likely be informed that the planned overhaul is purely intended to end discriminatory selection practices.
However, one has to fear that unfortunately the primary motivation is somewhat less laudable and perhaps more ideological in origin, one which is rooted in the traditional ultra-pluralist socialist agenda of the Labour Party. This is an agenda that appears to believe that multiculturalism is good for multiculturalism’s sake, regardless of whether it has majority support.
The ramifications of this policy for the Irish language community, especially in high-density urban areas, may be quite serious as the vast majority of Gaelscoileanna attempt to enrol students who have at least one Irish-speaking parent.
If the minister prohibits this enrolment technique he will be inadvertently dealing a further blow to the Irish language by making it considerably more difficult for the children of Gaeilgeoir parents to access oideachas lan Gaeilge, thereby reducing the languages prospects by misguidedly restricting its most dedicated advocates.
Paul Ryder
Balgriffin, Dublin 13
www.independent.ie
Imeachtaí Scoile mar chuid d’Fhéile Litríochta BÁC
April 4, 2013
Places still available in new Gaelscoil in Stepaside
April 4, 2013
Application forms for places in the Junior Infant class in the new Gaelscoil in Stepaside are still being accepted. The new school will open this September…
Almost 400 children are currently educated through Irish in Gaelscoil Thaobh na Coille, Stepaside. In 2012, the Department of Education announced that another Gaelscoil would be opened in the area, to cater for the demand for Irish language education.
The new Gaelscoil will be based at a temporary location in Aikens village and will transfer to a permanent site in the area. The Department of Education are currently sourcing this location.
The position of principal in the new Gaelscoil has been advertised. An Foras Pátrúnachta, the school’s patron, expect that the principal will be appointed by the end of April.
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta, said: “Children starting off in the new Gaelscoil in Stepaside will be getting the fantastic advantage of a low pupil teacher ratio as well as the full support of the Department of Education with regard to accommodation and funding.
“The school will have the full support and experience of an Foras Pátrúnachta, setting the school on the path of providing an excellent standard of education to the children.”
Great interest has been shown in the new Gaelscoil to date. An information evening was held for parents recently and a parents committee is currently being formed. It is expected that an Irish language summer camp for the children will be organised. There has also been a keen interest in Irish language classes for parents.
Further information as well as application forms (for 2013 and other years) are available from www.foras.ie
www.sandyford.com
Irish language schools targeted over restrictive entrance rules
April 4, 2013
ANY Gaelscoil that refuses entry to prospective students if they do not speak Irish at home will have to change its approach under new enrolment rules.
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has expressed concern about restrictive practices at some all-Irish schools, which are prohibiting some pupils from entry. His comments came in the wake of his announcement of a major overhaul in school admissions policies generally, in order to make them fairer and more transparent. The shake-up will include a prohibition on Irish-medium schools insisting that pupils come from an Irish-speaking family, both at primary and second-level.
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Yesterday, Mr Quinn said he was “concerned that in some cases, Gaelcholaiste have indicated to some applicant parents that unless the language at home is ‘as Gaeilge’ that they would not be inclined to accept a pupil for a place in a Gaelcholaiste”.
Mr Quinn said the proposed new enrolment measures for the country’s schools “will apply to all schools that are in receipt of taxpayers’ money”. “We now have a large Gaelscoileanna movement across the country. We are building up a network of Gaelcholaiste to enable parents who want to continue their (children’s) education right through the second-level stream.
“I would be concerned with restrictive practices for entrance into those schools just as I would be for entrances into other schools,” he said. Currently, there are about 100 Gaelcholaiste in the country
Mr Quinn will bring proposals to Cabinet soon outlining plans for legislation to tighten up school enrolment policies. The changes will have little or no impact on the 80pc of schools that accommodate all applicants, but will affect the other 20pc that use selective criteria.
A range of different selection methods allow schools to control admissions, and means others may end up taking more than their fair share of pupils of lesser academic ability or with a special educational need.
Mr Quinn’s plans include proposals to end the ‘first come, first served’ policies used by many schools, which discriminate against people who move into a new area.
There will be a ban on booking deposits, which range from €50 to €200, charged by some schools. These are usually nonrefundable if the child is not offered or does not take up a place.
The new rules will also curtail the practice of giving priority to children of past pupils and of using compulsory open day and interviews to screen students, and their parents. But schools under church control will continue to be able to protect their religious ethos by giving preference to children of that faith.
The changes could mean that schools will have to rely on a lottery system to allocate places where demand exceeds the number of available places.
Sean Cottrell, director of the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN), welcomed the proposals which, he said, would make the enrolment process transparent and less stressful for parents.
“Minister Quinn’s reforms will go a long way towards levelling the playing field for all. But they must involve creating uniform enrolment criteria.”
www.independent.ie
Progress on patronage
April 3, 2013
When Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn took office two years ago he advocated the early establishment of multidenominational and non-denominational national schools in response to dramatic social changes and the exclusion of some immigrant children from Catholic-run schools.
He talked about removing half of all 3,000 primary schools from Catholic Church control. And while a Government advisory group on patronage and pluralism later advised a more gradualist approach, it expected the transfer of school patronage to begin this year. It now appears the process may be delayed until September 2014.
Delay is the great enemy of reform. The longer the delay, the greater the likelihood that political energy will dissipate and minimal change will result. A survey of parents in 38 districts by the Department of Education has found a demand for alternative patronage in 23 instances.
The great majority of those parents favoured patronage by Educate Together, where children learn about different belief systems but religious instruction takes place outside school hours. Vocational Education Committee control was favoured in three instances where multifaith instruction is provided. A spokesman for Catholic Schools Partnership, Fr Micheal Drumm questioned the need for “immediate” change and spoke of a “phased response” by the bishops involved.
Interest groups tend to defend traditional powers. While some bishops are open to change, others are reluctant. Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has accepted the need for a reduction in Catholic Church control over education. And he has pointed to census results and falling Mass-attendance figures as reasons for a rethink of traditional church approaches.
Others are more cautious. Society has, however, changed dramatically in recent years because of the number of immigrant families. One in six residents was born outside the State and their children have now to be provided for in traditional, multidenominational or non-denominational schools.
The programme for government regards reform of education as “a priority”. It promises “sufficiently diverse schools to cater for all religions and none” at primary level. After that, it will “move towards a more pluralist system of patronage at second level”.
In giving those commitments, the Government was responding to social pressures and representations from teachers’ unions. The decision to release survey findings at this time and the implicit commitment to establish 23 new schools was, however, politically significant. It did not defuse the anger of teachers over their allowances and conditions or protect Mr Quinn from heckling but it suggested that, if teachers are serious about changes to school patronage, he is the one most likely to deliver.
www.irishtimes.com
Tionchar mionteangacha orainn
April 3, 2013
There is still a need for small schools in rural communities, says minister
April 3, 2013
EDUCATION Minister Ruairi Quinn has ruled out closing 1,000 small schools.
Mr Quinn insisted that one, two and three-teacher schools will continue to form a vital part of Ireland’s primary education infrastructure, despite a new report that says a minimum of four teachers and 80 students is the future optimum level.
His comments came as he received an angry ‘red card’ protest at the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) annual conference in Cork.
More than 600 of the 800 delegates held special red cards aloft as Mr Quinn delivered his speech to signal their anger at swingeing cutbacks to teacher pay and conditions.
Mr Quinn, who yesterday celebrated his 67th birthday, had to pause three times during his address amid loud jeers and catcalls from the floor. One of the loudest roars followed his reference to teachers as “comrades in education”.
Teachers chanted “stop the cuts” and “shame” before president Anne Fay appealed for quiet to allow him to conclude his address. Mr Quinn insisted there was no closure threat to small and rural Irish primary schools.
INTO has repeatedly demanded the full publication of the Value For Money (VFM) report which was commissioned in 2011. The union also warned that it would not tolerate any threat of closure or forced amalgamation to small rural schools. Mr Quinn said no such threat exists.
“The (report) does contain a recommendation that we establish a national policy that recognised a four-teacher school as the optimum minimum size.
“This would ensure that multi-grade teaching would typically be limited to two grades at most, making teaching and learning more manageable for all. This does not mean that we will be forcibly closing down every one, two and threeteacher school,” Mr Quinn said.
“There is and will continue to be a need for small schools to exist in rural and isolated communities. Rather, this national policy will mean that, over time, any reconfiguration of schools would be guided by that optimum minimum size,” he added.
The Government is now only building new premises for eight teacher schools.
INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan warned that direct funding to Irish primary schools has been axed by 12pc since 2009. She also rejected the Government’s €11 per child school book subsidy as “a joke”.
“Teachers are looking at a system that is crashing about them, devastated by the wrecking ball of austerity,” she added.
www.independent.ie
Radical change to school enrolment
April 3, 2013
School waiting lists will be curtailed and application fees abolished under a draft Bill to be brought to Government by the Minist er f or Education and Skills.
Practices such as offering preference to children of past pupil s and first-come- first-serve enrolment policies may be banned under the proposals announced by Ruairí Quinn yesterday.
Under the new pr oposal s schools would no longer be permitted to charge parents for application to schools. Non-refundable fees of up to ¤100 are currently charged by s o me post-primary schools, primarily in the fee-paying sector.
Speaking at the annual ASTI conference in Wexford yesterday the Minister described as “insidious” the requirement for children and their parents to attend compulsory open days or be interviewed by schools, and said that these practices will be curtailed.
Enrolling students on a first-come-first-serve basis will al s o be reviewed. While t he practice might appear reasonable, he said, it can mean “that children who move to an area from other parts of the country or from other countries, can be effectively excluded from schools that have more applicants than places”.
In the 20 per cent of schools where demand exceeds supply there was a need for clarity on enrolment, he said.The draft heads of the Education (Admission to School) Bill 2013 will go to Government shortly.
www.irishtimes.com
