Delegates wary of minister’s vow on closures
Aibreán 3, 2013
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn failed to convince teachers there will not be further pay cuts or small rural school closures.
He told the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation annual congress in Cork that a report he intends to bring to Cabinet says that a four-teacher school is the optimum, minimum size for smaller schools.
But while the value-for-money review by his department says it would make teaching and learning more manageable, as no teacher would have more than two class groups, Mr Quinn insisted the report does not mean there will be forced closures of schools with one, two, or three teachers.
“There is, and will continue to be, a need for small schools to exist in rural and isolated communities,” Mr Quinn told delegates. “Rather [than forced closures], this national policy would mean that over time any reconfiguration of schools would be guided by that optimum minimum size.”
Mr Quinn later told reporters that the value-for-money review, commissioned by the previous government, takes account of the additional costs amalgamations would add to budgets for school building and transport. However, his words offered no reassurance to delegates who spoke on a motion seeking an improved campaign to protect small schools.
The policy is seen as a way to force them to decide on amalgamations, instead of having it decided by the minister or his department.
www.irishexaminer.com
Survey shows ‘demand for diversity’
Aibreán 3, 2013
Educate Together named as preferred choice by majority of parents in study
The results of the recent Department of Education patronage survey were “significant” and “clearly show a demand for diversity”, the chief executive of the multidenominational Educate Together primary school organisation said yesterday.
Twenty-three of the 38 areas of the country surveyed had demonstrated demand for an immediate change in the existing school patronage, the department said in a statement this week. The majority of parents who took part in the survey named Educate Together as their preferred patron.
Educate Together chief exeecutive Paul Rowe said the organisation was “delighted that so many parents across the country want an Educate Together school in their community.
The Forum for Patronage and Pluralism has given parents in these communities the opportunity to express preference for the schools they want. We are honoured that so many communities have put their trust in Educate Together and our educational ethos.” He said the survey results were significant as they clearly showed demand for diversity of school-type existed across the country.
“Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn is to be commended for the forum initiative. It has given parents a real opportunity to choose the type of schools they want for their children’s education.”
The association representing vocational colleges has expressed concern about restrictions placed on patrons to promote their model to parents. The Irish Vocational Education Assocation gave a “qualified welcome” to the survey which found demand for its community national school model in two areas, Carrigaline in Co Cork and Celbridge Co Kildare. The restrictions meant potential patrons could spend €300 promoting themselves to parents in each survey area.
As the VEC’s community national school model was the “newest” available to parents, they needed to “be allowed to promote and advertise their merits, and parents need to be made aware” of it as a choice, association general secretary Michael Moriarty said. The VEC currently operates eight community national schools in the State.
Irish language patron An Foras Pátrúnachta was “delighted” to have been pre-ferred by parents in Birr, Co Offaly where there had been “strong demand” for a Gaelscoil for “quite a while”, general secretary Caoimhín ÓhEaghra said.
However the organisation raised concern about the use of a survey system to cater for a linguistic minority. An Foras Pátrúnachta is patron of 59 primary schools with two more opening next year.
www.irishtimes.com
Comórtas: Láithreoir Óg á lorg ag RnaG
Aibreán 3, 2013
An ceoltóir óg tú le suim sa cheol agus i láithriú raidió? Más ea, seo do dheis!
Mar chuid de Sheachtain na nÓg ar RTÉ, tá Raidió na Gaeltachta ag tabhairt deis do láithreoir óg an clár Béal Maidine a láithriú i dteannta Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha ar an Domhnach 21 Aibreán ó 8am-10 am.
Bíonn Béal Maidine ar siúl maidin Dé Sathairn agus Dé Domhnaigh – is í Áine Hensey a bhíonn sa chathaoir ar an Satharn, agus Neansaí ar an Domhnach. Cloistear rogha breá ceoil ar na cláracha, maraon le hiarratais agus cur síos ar ócáidí ceoil.
Má tá suim agat a bheith san iomaíocht, seol taifead isteach chuig Raidió na Gaeltachta ina gcuireann tú píosa ceoil i láthair as Gaeilge.
Beidh Neansaí ag lorg iarrthóir le Gaeilge mhaith, tuiscint ar an gceol agus stíl dheas láithreoireachta.
Seol isteach d’iarratas chuig Comórtas Bhéal Maidine, c/o Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Casla, Conamara, Co. na Gaillimhe. Is féidir teagmháil a dhéanamh le Neansaí ag ceolbinnn@rte.ie
Féach www.rte.ie/rnag nó leathanach Facebook RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta le tuilleadh eolais a fháil.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Ruairi Quinn plans to make school enrolment fairer
Aibreán 3, 2013
Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn is to publish draft legislation in the coming months aimed at making school enrolment policies fairer. The legislation is aimed at making policies more just, especially for newcomers to an area, and other groups, such as children from the travelling community. It has been almost two years since the Department of Education published a discussion document on school enrolment policies. It outlined proposals to make the school entry system fairer to all, proposals including the outlawing of the practice of giving priority to the children of past pupils or staff. Practices such as this disadvantage newcomers and others, including children from the travelling community. Yesterday evening the minister said he would be bringing draft legislation to Cabinet shortly. Parents would no longer have to pay simply to apply for a school place. It would also outlaw schools interviewing parents and children prior to acceptance. Mr Quinn said the draft legislation would be published in coming months for consultation. Later today Mr Quinn will address the Teachers’ Union of Ireland’s annual congress in Galway. Yesterday, he was heckled during his speeches at the conferences of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland and the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation.
rte.ie
Scoláireachtaí Lóistín i gColáiste Naomh Eoin, Inis Meáin don scoilbhliain 2013-14
Aibreán 3, 2013
Déanann an Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Comhionannais agus Gaeltachta maoiniú ar dheich gcinn de scoláireachtaí lóistín gach bliain chun deis a tabhairt do ghasúir ón mórthír a bhfuil cónaí orthu i limistéir taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht freastal ar Choláiste Naomh Eoin, Inis Meáin ar feadh na bliana acadúla. Tarlaíonn an maoiniú seo faoi scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge.
Bronntar an scoláireacht ar bhun bliantiúil. Má bhíonn an scoil sásta go bhfuil an dalta ag déanamh dul chun cinn suantasach sa Ghaeilge agus go bhfuil sé/sí báúil do shaol agus do chultúr an oileáin d’fhéadfadh dalta scoláireacht a fháil dá t(h)réimse oideachais dara leibhéal ina iomláine, agus tabhairt faoi scrúduithe na hÁrdteistiméireachta ar an oileán.
Cláraíonn na scoláirí sa meánscoil áitiúil Coláiste Naomh Eoin áit a múintear réimse leathan ábhair tré mheán na Gaeilge. Chomh maith leis an sealbhú teanga, tá buntáistí oideachais den scoth ar fáil. Is scoil bheag í Coláiste Naomh Eoin, le líon íseal daltaí, tréithe a chinntíonn go bhfaigheann gach dalta deis foghlamtha go barr a gcumais mar go mbíonn áird a múinteoirí ar a dtoil acu. Tá an foireann teagaisc óg, bríomhar agus sár-oilte ina gceird. Tá cairdeas agus meas idir an fhoireann agus na daltaí rud a chinntíonn atmaisféar mealltach don fhoghlaim. Déanann na múinteoirí maoirseoireacht ar thréimhse staidéir tar éis scoile chun go mbeidh deis ag na gasúir a gcuid obair bhaile agus staidéar breise a dhéanamh ar a gcompórd. Bíonn na scoláirí faoi chúram na scoile le linn gnáthuaireanta scoile agus le linn imeachtaí eagraithe ag an scoil taobh amuigh den gnáth chleachtas.
Is faoi chúram na mná tí a thógann ról “Loco Parentis” orthu féin, a bhíonn siad an chuid eile den am a mbíonn siad ar an oileán. Bíonn criathrú óna gardaí faighte do gach ball teaghlaigh ós cionn ocht mbliana déag d’aois chun slándail agus sábháilteacht an dalta a chinntiú.
Is iad tuismitheoirí na scoláirí amháin a bhíonn freagrach astu le linn taistil chuig agus ón oileán.
Is áit álainn shuaimhneach í Inis Méain, áit a bhfuil faoiseamh agus ionspráid le fáil taobh le taobh, é caomhnaithe ag am agus ag traidisiún, áit a dtarlaíonn spreagadh na foghlamtha go nadúrtha mar gheall ar a sceirdiúlacht agus a saoirse ó chathú an t-saoil. Tá pacáistí lóistín ar chostas réasúnta de €5,500 in aghaidh na bliana ar fáil do dhaltaí a bheadh oiriúnach don scoil. Clúdaíonn an costas seo lóistín agus cothaíocht a fhad agus atá siad ar an oileán. Íoctar leath den chostas roimh thús na scoil bhliana agus an chuid eile i mí Eanáir. Tá uas-theorainn socraithe ag an scoil ar na pacáistí seo chomh maith chun a chinntiú nach gcailltear na buntáistí aitheanta, sin uimhreacha beaga agus áird phearsanta na dteagascóirí a théann le hoideachas i gColáiste Naomh Eoin ar Inis Meáin.
Maireann na scoláirí le teaghlach áitiúil ar Inis Meáin ar feadh na bliana, is í an Ghaeilge an teanga teaghlaigh sna tithe seo agus faigheann na scoláirí léargas ar an nGaeilge mar theanga bheo agus mar ghnáth theanga pobail. Fanann siad leis an gclann ar feadh na bliana, ag dul abhaile gach dara deireadh seachtaine agus le linn laethanta saoire.
Is féidir breis eolas a fháil ó www.colaistenaomheoin.ie nó glaoch ar Mhairéad Ní Fhátharta ag 0877775567 chun suim a léiriú.
Suirbhé ar phátrúnacht foilsithe – Gaelscoil nua do Bhiorra, Contae Uíbh Fhailí
Aibreán 3, 2013
Tá an-áthas ar An Foras Pátrúnachta gur aithin suirbhé na Roinne ar thuismitheoirí an t-éileamh ollmhór atá ar oideachas lán-Ghaeilge i mBiorra, Contae Uíbh Fhailí. Moladh i dtuarascáil na Roinne gur cheart 23 scoil ilchreidmheach a bhunú, Gaelscoil i mBiorra ina measc. D’aithin an suirbhé go bhfuil éileamh mór ar oideachas lán-Ghaeilge i gceantair éagsúla; Mullach Íde, Na Sceirí agus Port Mearnóg i mBaile Átha Cliath san áireamh.
Dúirt Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, Ard Rúnaí ar An Foras Pátrúnachta, go raibh tuismitheoirí i mBiorra ag obair le fada chun scoil lán-Ghaeilge a fháil agus go raibh ríméad air gur éirigh leo. Tá An Foras Pátrúnachta ag súil go mór bheith ag obair leis an Eaglais Chaitliceach sa phróiseas seo.Is léir ó na torthaí eile sa tsuirbhé go bhfuil éileamh láidir d’oideachas lán-Ghaeilge timpeall na tíre. Is léir freisin go bhfuil éileamh ann don mhúnla atá á sholáthar ag An Foras Pátrúnachta.De réir tuarascáil na Roinne, bhí éileamh idir 4%agus 31% ar oideachas lán-Ghaeilge sna ceantair éagsúla.
Luíonn sé seo leis an méid atá a chur in iúl ag An Foras Pátrúnachta ó thús an phróisis. Tá cearta ag na tuismitheoirí agus daltaí seo agus tá dualgas oideachas lán-Ghaeilge a sholáthar dóibh.Tá iarracht déanta ag an Roinn Oideachais cothrom na féinne a chinntiú sa tsuirbhé ach braitear nach é seo an múnla chun freastal ar thuismitheoirí nach bhfuil mar chuid den tromlach. Cad mar gheall ar na tuismitheoirí a roghnaigh oideachas lán-Ghaeilge sna ceantair éagsúla?
Chuir An Foras Pátrúnachta na buarthaí seo in iúl don Roinn Oideachais sula ndearnadh an suirbhéar chúig cheantar píolótach agus arís nuair a foilsíodh na torthaí ó na ceantair sin. Mar an t-aon phátrún lán-Ghaeilge, beidh An Foras Pátrúnachta ag cur in iúl don Roinn ár n-imní go bhfuil faillí á dhéanamh ar phaistí, ar thuismitheoirí agus ar cheantair mura bhfuil an próiseas chun cinntiú go bhfuil aitheantas á thabhairt dóibh agus a mianta.Is gá féachaint ar cheist na Gaeilge agus ar na scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge go comhtháite. Tá sé soiléir nuair a fhaigheann daltaí agus tuismitheoirí oideachas lán-Ghaeilge go n-aithníonn siad na buntáistí agus go bhfuil siad rí-shásta leis an múnla. Tá sé soiléir freisin nuair a éiríonn leis An Foras Pátrúnachta tuismitheoirí a chur ar an eolas faoin múnla seo go roghnaíonn siad é dá bpáistí.
Dúirt Caoimhín Ó hEaghra go bhfuil An Foras Pátrúnachta, an t-aon phátrún a bunaíodh chun oideachas lán-Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn, ag obair go tréan chun tacaíocht a thabhairt do na scoileanna atá acu agus chun scoileanna nua a bhunú. Tá ról fíorthábhachtach á chomhlíonadh ag An Foras Pátrúnachta le tacaíocht ónár scoileanna, ónár dtuismitheoirí agus ó phobal na Gaeilge i gcoitinne. Táimid buíoch as seo agus ag súil leis an méid atá bainte amach go dtí seo a fhorbairt.
Catholic patrons welcome schools report
Aibreán 2, 2013
There is a “measurable small demand” for change in school patronage in certain areas and parents should have a choice, chairman of the Council for Education of the Irish Bishops’ Conference has said.
Catholic patrons have welcomed the primary school patronage report which showed demand for change from parents in 23 areas. However, attention must be given to the “large majority” of parents who expressed no interest in change, the council chairman Fr Michael Drumm said. He was speaking as a survey on parental preferences for primary school patronage was published today by the Department of Education.
Catholic bishops in 23 areas across the State have six months to provide detailed proposals on how they plan on divesting primary schools of their patronage. Of 23 areas, between 2.2 per cent and 8 per cent of parents with children in school favoured change, the council said. The areas “vary quite a bit”, Fr Drumm said. The report raised the issue of “displacement” of trying to cater for the views of a minority who want change, Fr Drumm said. The problem on the ground was that numbers displaced could be greater than numbers catered for, he said. In Celbridge, Co Kildare, some 100 parents desired a different type of school but the smallest Catholic school was 300 children, he said. It was about getting the “balance right” , he added. Demand for choice was “lower than anticipated” Fr Drumm said. The survey showed a “very strong affirmation” of Catholic schools with no real interest in change from 15 of 38 areas, he said.
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said this morning he expected Catholic bishops to cooperate in identifying suitable primary schools for the transfer of patronage. The Department of Education will send surveys to the patrons seeking an initial response after three months and a final response in six months, he said. “I would hope and expect during that period a suitable school will be identified by them within the various towns and arrangements will be made for the orderly transfer of the patronage of that school back to the Department of Education,” Mr Quinn said on RTÉ Radio. Mr Quinn said he expected cooperation from the Catholic Church because patronage had been identified as an issue by Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin. It was about “parental choice” not a “general election”, Mr Quinn said.
Out of 38 survey areas selected according to specific demographic criteria, 23 have demonstrated demand for “an immediate change in the existing school patronage”, according to a Department of Education statement. The majority of parents who took part in the survey named Educate Together as their preferred patron. Educate Together was “delighted” and “honoured” that many communities had selected them as a preferred patron,chief executive Paul Rowe said in a statement. The results were “significant” and showed “demand for diversity”, he said. He praised the “goodwill” shown by the Catholic bishops to the process.
Co Cork VEC was “delighted” to be the preferred patron chosen by parents in Carrigaline, chief executive Joan Russell said. If Co Cork VEC becomes patron of a Carrigaline school it would be its second primary patronage. It is due to open its first primary school in Mallow next year. “I am aware this is only the first step… and am respectful of existing patrons,” Ms Russell said. The community national school model was “not well known” in Cork so the growth would allow parents to become familiar with it, she said.
Among the 23 schools identified in the report were Dublin 6, Malahide, Palmerstown, Portmarnock, Rush, Tuam, Westport, Ballina, Clonmel, Passage West, Dungarvan, Fermoy, Kells, Killarney, Leixlip, Loughrea, Cobh, Nenagh, New Ross, Shannon, Celbridge and Carrigaline.
One area, Birr in Co Offaly, showed sufficient demand for a Gaelscoil. Several others specified VEC patronage as their preferred option.
There was insufficient demand in areas such as Wicklow, Skerries, Carrick-on-Suir and Roscommon, among others.
The level of demand required to support change was set at the minimum enrolment required for a four-teacher school, somewhere between 80 and 100 pupils. A total of 10,715 valid survey responses were received.
www.irishtimes.com
Poll: 60% of towns want new patrons
Aibreán 2, 2013
Parents in just 60% of towns dominated by Catholic primary schools have voted to have control handed over to different patrons.
Educate Together has emerged as the preferred patron to take over one of the local schools in 20 of the 23 areas where there was enough demand for choice.
But the most surprising outcome of the surveys — completed in January by parents of almost 20,000 primary school pupils and pre-school children — was that the vast majority in 15 out of 38 areas were satisfied with the current provision.
The research was carried out by the Department of Education in areas where there is little or no alternative to Catholic schools, but where populations are not growing enough for new schools to be built.
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has said up to half of all Catholic primary schools may need to be divested, but the level of demand shows this is not the case. He wants bishops in each of the 23 areas where change is recommended to provide details within six months on how they plan to make schools available to patrons.
For recommended new patrons by town, see http://exa.mn/hn
www.irishexaminer.com
Union chief wants report on future of schools published
Aibreán 2, 2013
Teachers fear over 1,000 schools with fewer than 80 pupils may be under threat
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn was challenged by Irish National Teachers’ Organisation president Anne Fay to publish a report commissioned on primary schools amid growing fears t ha t more t ha n 1 , 000 schools with under 80 pupils or three teachers or fewer may face closure.
Ms Fay told the union’s 145th annual congress that Mr Quinn, who addresses del egates today, should move to publish the Value for Money report commissioned 2½ years ago by the Department of Education on the future of primary schools.
Ms Fa y , who teaches in a three-teacher school in Fermoy, Co Cork, criticised the leaking of some of the report at the weekend. It was reported on Sunday that the viability of more than 600 small schools would be thrown into doubt by the report.
“We got selective leaks of this report to a Sunday newspaper by the Minister, I presume, which I believe shows a lack of respect for parents, teachers and communities all over Ireland. Over a thousand schools now fear for their very existence,” she said. Loud applause Loudly applauded by the 800 delegates in Cork, Ms Fay went on to remind Mr Quinn of the commitment he gave on behalf of the Labour Party when in opposition and just before t he 2011 general election to oppose any forced amalgamation of schools.
“The now Minister for Education and Science wrote on February 15th, 2011, just before the general election: ‘The Labour Party has never supported the forcible amalgamation of rural schools’, another debased pre-election promise to add to what is becoming a very long list.”
Ms Fay said teachers still manage to take great pride in their work despite being anxious and worried about the future and cuts in education and, even when greatly overworked, have the interests of their pupils foremost in their mind. ‘Palpable anger’ “But alongside that pride, I have detected a palpable anger – there is anger at the attitudes of some of our employers, commentators and politicians who seem to think, bizarrely and erroneously, that teaching is an easy life,” she said.
“There is anger at changes to terms and conditions that focus on saving money and not on making the education system better, and anger at investment in education becoming another discredited election promise, not a priority to return Ireland to economic growth and social equality.”
Ms Fay opted not to speak on Croke Park II proposals on pay which are currently being voted on by union members. However, union sources confirmed to The Irish Times that there was a lot of anger voiced at the Croke Park II proposals at a private session.
www.irishtimes.com
Gaeltacht ar an dé deiridh?
Aibreán 2, 2013
‘Níl a leithéid de rud againn níos mó agus Gaeltacht,’a deir Seosamh Mac Donnacha san eagrán reatha de Comhar.
Maíonn sé gur cainteoirí dúchais dátheangacha iad formhór mhuintir na Gaeltachta, agus nach sealbhaíonn siad an dá theanga ag an luas céanna ná go dtí an leibhéal cumais céanna.
Caithfimid ceist bhunúsach a chur orainn: cad is Gaeltacht ann? Go dtí seo, tá Rialtas Bhaile Átha Cliath sásta líne a tharraingt agus ‘tearmann Indiach’ a chruthú, gan bonneagar ceart.
Deir Mac Donnacha nach mbeadh páiste a tógadh leis an Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht ábalta seirbhísí bunúsacha a fháil tríd an Ghaeilge, nach mbeadh sé ábalta oideachas a fháil go hiomlán tríd an Ghaeilge, nach mbeadh sé in ann post a fháil mura bhfuil Béarla aige, agus nach mbeadh sé ábalta labhairt leis na gardaí i nGaoth Dobhair i nGaeilge.
Sin an fhadhb is mó atá againn maidir leis an Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht agus sa Ghalltacht: níl an Ghaeilge sa timpeallacht. Nuair a théann tú isteach i siopa nuachtán mór anseo, feiceann tú na céadta iris i mBéarla (ráiméis an chuid is mó acu, ach sin scéal eile). Ní féidir leat iris Ghaeilge a fháil i siopa nuachtán ar bith i nDoire. Dála an scéil, thig leat Paris Match a cheannach i lár na cathrach gach seachtain.
Má théann tú thar sáile, is féidir leat teanga na tíre a phiocadh suas go gasta. Labhraítear í i ngach áit: ar an tsráid, sa teach, sna siopaí, sna hoifigí srl. Cluineann tú an teanga an t-am ar fad ar an raidió agus ar an teilifís. Feiceann tú nuachtáin agus fógraí sa teanga. Bíonn tú i dteagmháil leis an teanga i gcónaí – fírinne fhollasach. Ach ní tharlaíonn sin in Éirinn. Agus ní féidir teanga a fhorbairt mura mbaintear úsáid aisti go leanúnach i saol an phobail.
Níl ach tír amháin ar dhroim an domhain ina bhfuil tú in ann post a fháil san earnáil phoiblí mura bhfuil an teanga náisiúnta agat- sin teach na ngealt darb ainm Éire, ar ndóigh, tír ina bhfuil polaiteoirí gan mhaith agus maorlathaithe gan anam.
Bhuel, tá Lá ’le Pádraig thart. Cuirfear an Ghaeilge ar ais sa tarraiceán go ceann bliana eile. Ach má théimid ar aghaidh mar atá muid, rachaimid chuig an chófra lá éigin, agus ní bheidh rud ar bith ann.
www.derryjournal.com
