Schools too focused on religion and Irish
September 12, 2012
THE latest OECD ‘ Education at a Glance’ statistics report gives us a good opportunity to examine Ireland’s primary school curriculum in relief against the rest of the developed world.
The more you look at the report, the more it raises some telling questions about whether we are doing a good job of equipping our children for life outside of school, not just for when they leave but on a day- to- day basis. On a weekly basis we teach just one hour of science as against 2.5 hours of religion. And so much of third class is given over to preparation for First Communion and then sixth to Confirmation, that even this statistic is skewed upwards in favour of religion.
Although the majority of our schools are Catholic and thus sign up for the whole religious packet, there are ever fewer people attending Mass or declaring themselves as followers of the Church of Rome. Surely we can start cutting back on some of the time spent on religion in general and the preparation for these rites.
But it’s not just science that is the only practical subject that could benefit from a few hours re- allocated from within the traditional curriculum. Walk into any Irish primary school and you’ll be blinded by the number of signs and posters in the Irish language.
It seems that our schools bear the responsibility of being the last bastions of the Irish language outside of the Gaeltacht and government offices. Again, I feel too much time is given over to Irish and not enough to maths where our pupils consistently struggle. Ireland needs to become more outward- looking and less obsessed with losing its identity.
Modern languages play a key role in the building of our understanding of not just the markets we crave but of the people themselves that we wish to do business with. In my experience as a teacher of both French and German, a grounding in these two languages, as well as Spanish and Italian, makes all the difference to pupils arriving in post- primary school.
In what can only be described as short- sighted and a step backwards, last year Ruairi Quinn abolished the Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative. Look it up on the internet and you’ll see how those backing its inception in 1998 described this “exciting” project operating through “drama, songs and games”. In 2012 it appears we no longer need to teach modern languages at primary level to “enhance selfesteem and confidence and enhance cultural awareness”. Personally, having taught English at primary level in Germany to children, aged 10, during the 1990s, I can vouch for the receptiveness of learners at this age.
STARTING with traditional English rhymes, we progressed to material I actually knew the words to, like Oasis and Blur! As I walked in the door they would automatically strike up “He lives in a house, a very big house in the country!” What impressed me most was that these children were not just comfortable middleclass Germans, but some who hailed from Croatia, Russia, Turkey and Bosnia too, and were already struggling with German.
What they excelled in most of all was role- playing Mr Smith serving Mrs Jones in the grocery shop or in a restaurant … because it was fun and meaningful.
Was the Irish initiative even implemented properly? Sadly, when queried on the initiative itself, primary teachers often admitted that they couldn’t fit in the extra period to teach a modern language such was the burden of the regular curriculum. Once it’s seen as “extra” to the established curriculum of religion, maths, English and Irish, any innovation is doomed.
Neil O’Callaghan is a German and French teacher
www.independent.ie
Small island schools facing cuts
September 12, 2012
Sir, –
Some years ago, as part of a recognition of the needs of small island primary schools which do not have an option to amalgamate with other schools nearby, the minimum school enrolment was reduced to eight pupils. It has only now come to light that the Department of Education is in the process of increasing this number back up to 17. Here in Inis Meáin the enrolment number dropped to six in 2011.
Although the enrolment number for 2012 is back at eight and we have had four births here in 18 months, the department moved immediately to remove the second teacher who has lived and worked all of her life on the island. Then, because the school board of management did not co-operate with the department’s redeployment plans, they had their extra 10 learning support hours taken away also, thereby depriving local children of a basic right that is available to pupils in every other school in the country. The second teacher was offered ridiculously unworkable redeployment options which could only be taken up if she were to relocate with her family to the mainland or to a neighbouring island.
Contrast this with the Minister’s U-turn in the case of Deis schools, when faced with the powerful lobby of Labour TDs threatening revolt. It appears that under Mr Quinn’s regime small offshore islands are now to downgrade to the status that obtained in the last century.
– Yours, etc,
TARLACH de BLÁCAM,
Inis Meáin,
Cuan na Gaillimhe.
www.irishtimes.com
Teacher college mergers aim to maintain standard
September 7, 2012
Tighter controls on numbers training to become teachers are needed to ensure the high standard of applicants is not reduced as jobs become more scarce.
The recommendation comes from an international group of experts. They have suggested that the 19 publicly funded colleges — which offer more than 40 teaching courses — be merged into six specialist education centres, and this plan has been approved by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn.
The review commissioned for him by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) was focused on improving pre-service training for primary and second-level teachers rather than cutting costs.
The recommendations include moves to have students of some smaller colleges take lectures in nearby larger colleges, while changes to overall governance might also occur.
The group said the standard of applicants for teacher training courses was among the highest in the world, but a lack of jobs may deter top people applying in future.
“Where there is an oversupply of teachers, with the consequent reduction in opportunities for employment, it may not be possible to continue to attract high calibre entrants into teaching,” the review panel wrote.
Despite a slight drop in the numbers graduating last year, the 3,463 who qualified as teachers was almost 600 more than in 2007. They have problems finding work as a result of cuts in schools, although rising pupil numbers and retirements may make more jobs available in coming years.
However, as well as over the numbers, concern was expressed — particularly in relation to second level — about the emergence of qualified teachers of subjects not needed by schools while there are shortages of teachers fully qualified to take maths or other subjects.
Instead, the group said, wider discussions should be required before colleges develop new teacher training courses.
“It is a waste of precious staff time and effort to develop programmes for which there is no national need,” the experts said.
The report of the review group, chaired by Pasi Sahlberg from Finland, also recommends use of more full-time research-focused lecturers over experienced teachers hired as part-time lecturers.
Mr Quinn has previously said it was wasteful to have 22 colleges, including 19 funded by the State, offering teacher training in a country of this size. Publishing the Sahlberg report, he said the collaborations would mean a smaller number of teacher training colleges would each offer early childhood, primary, post-primary, and adult education.
“We know from research that the quality of our education system can not exceed the quality of our teachers. This is why I am driving changes at both a structural and content level in teacher education.”
He has already sanctioned the extension of degrees for primary teaching from three to four-years and the postgraduate course for second-level teaching from a year to two.
Unions representing academic staff at the colleges called for detailed discussions on the changes before implementation. The Teachers’ Union of Ireland said the transfer of facilities would have significant cost implications.
Many of the proposed groupings are already in talks about mergers and some within the six recommended partnerships have strong existing ties.
Proposed connections
- Dublin City University, St Patrick’s College Dublin, and Mater Dei Institute of Education (in talks with Church of Ireland College of Education).
- Trinity College, Marino Institute of Education, University College Dublin, National College of Art and Design.
- NUI Maynooth and Froebel College, Dublin.
- University of Limerick, Mary Immaculate College, and Limerick Institute of Technology.
- University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology.
- NUI Galway and St Angela’s College Sligo.
www.irishexaminer.com
Gaelscoil an Chuilinn, dea-thoradh don Fhoras Pátrúnachta
September 7, 2012
New school opens in Dungiven
September 6, 2012
A NEW Irish language school in Dungiven opened its to doors to pupils for the first time this week.
Gaelscoil Neachtain is the first inter-denominational state controlled Irish-medium primary school in the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) area, and opened its doors to pupils for the first time on Monday, September 3, with an enrolment of 65 pupils.
The Chair of the Interim Board of Governors (IBOG), Nodlaig Ní Bhrollaigh, congratulated the newly-appointed principal, of Gaelscoil Neachtain, Marian Uí Cheallaigh, and wished her every success in her new role.
Ms Ní Bhrollaigh, said: “This is an historical occasion for all involved with Gaelscoil Neachtain.and for gaeloideachais in the area. We view this development as a progressive step as it will allow for the development and growth of Irish medium education and increase access to Irish medium education across the community. We are looking forward to supporting the school over the coming year and moving to permanent premises at the former controlled primary school in the near future.”
In May this year, the Education Minister John O’Dowd approved a development proposal to establish a free standing Irish-medium school, Gaelscoil Neachtain for the Dungiven area and approved the closure of the existing Irish-medium unit at St Canice’s PS – Bunscoil Naomh Cainneach which hosted an Irish Medium unit for 10 years.
With a wealth of experience in education in an Irish medium setting over the last decade, the new principal Máirin said: “I am delighted to be appointed as Principal of Gaelscoil Neachtain and have been working closely with the Western Board in planning and preparing for how the new school will operate.”
She added: “My ambition is to provide an excellent standard of education through the medium of Irish in a positive learning environment for all our pupils that will help enrich the lives of the children, their families and the wider community of Dungiven.”
The new school crest designed by local artist, Murrough O’Kane, portrays an image of a window from the old Priory in Dungiven as the school is named after the first abbot of the Priory, a Scottish born Saint called, Saint Neachtain and the uniform incorporates the famous Dungiven tartan.
Gaelscoil Neachtain is the second controlled Irish-medium school, after Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain in Belfast.
www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk
Thirteen teacher colleges face axe in major reform
September 6, 2012
THE number of teacher training colleges will be cut from 19 to six under radical restructuring proposals announced yesterday.
The reduction would be achieved through closures and mergers. It is designed to bring Ireland into line with best modern practice by moving away from a system of too many small colleges with unnecessary duplication and ultimately towards improving teacher quality.
Another issue touched on in a report from an international panel of experts is the supply and demand of teachers.
Concern
The report expresses “surprise and concern” that this has not been addressed in Ireland, as it has elsewhere. The 19 colleges currently offer more than 40 programmes of teacher training at primary and post- primary level.
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn is backing the experts’ recommendations and has asked the Higher Education Authority ( HEA) to draw up an implementation plan. However, the proposed rationalisation is certain to spark controversy within the sector, and how mergers would work remains to be ironed out.
One proposal would see teacher training at Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin coming together with Marino Institute of Education, which would also be the base for the new centre.
Meanwhile, the Church of Ireland College of Education, traditionally linked to Trinity, is involved in discussions with a group involving Dublin City University, having previously been involved in discussions with NUI Maynooth.
The six mergers envisaged in the proposals are:
- Dublin City University, St Patrick’s College Drumcondra, Mater Dei Institute of Education and the Church of Ireland College of Education.
- Trinity College Dublin, Marino Institute of Education, University College Dublin and the National College of Art and Design.
- National University of Ireland Maynooth and Froebel College.
- University of Limerick, Mary Immaculate College and Limerick Institute of Technology.
- University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology.
- National University of Ireland Galway and St Angela’s College Sligo.
It also recommends that Galway- Mayo Institute of Technology and St Patrick’s College in Thurles opt out of teacher training.
In countries such as Finland, all teachers are educated to Masters level in research- based universities, which could be an aspiration for Ireland.
The report praises the “several advantages” of our system, including the calibre of candidates, with academic standards among the highest in the world.
Specialism
It also notes that entrants to publicly- funded teacher training colleges are capped while numbers in the private sector are uncapped.
The private online Hibernia College last year accounted for more than 700 of the 1,887 primary teacher graduates and has now also moved into post- primary teacher training.
At second- level, the report queries the lack of a mechanism to decide how many teachers are needed in each specialism.
It says that the lack reliable data has led to increasing reliance on the use of “out of field” teachers – those who are unqualified in the subject.
www.independent.ie
Quinn backs cut in teacher training colleges
September 6, 2012
TEACHER TRAINING in the State is set to be transformed, with fewer colleges, a sharper research focus and the establishment of new institutes of education in six centres.
An expert report backed by Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn recommends the closure of smaller colleges and the integration of others. The report – by an international panel of experts – suggests there should be a more rigorous cap on the numbers in teacher training amid concerns over high levels of unemployment among teaching graduates.
The changes could also see both primary and second-level teachers being trained on the one campus. On teacher numbers, the report expresses dismay that the issue of teacher supply and demand has not been addressed in Ireland as it has been elsewhere. All of the main teacher training colleges have backed the proposed reforms at this early stage. But potentially controversial changes which could threaten the cherished identity and ethos of each college have still to be teased out. Under one of the recommendations, St Patrick’s College in Dublin would be merged with Dublin City University and the Mater Dei Institute in a new centre based on the St Pat’s campus. The Church of Ireland College of Education (CICE) is also involved in the process aimed at establishing a new-style institute of education in Drumcondra.
The report points to potential difficulties in this process. “It is acknowledged that there is a genuine aspiration for integration (at Drumcondra) but the management plan for its implementation was not evident to the review panel,” it reads. Education sources say special arrangements will be put in place to protect the Church of Ireland ethos in any new configuration. Chairman of the board of governors of CICE, Archbishop Michael Jackson, and the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, have welcomed the proposed changes. The key recommendation of the report is that six new institutes for education be established, replacing the existing arrangement whereby 19 State-funded coll eges of f er more t han 40 programmes in primary and postprimary teaching. Mr Quinn has asked the Higher Education Authority to submit a detailed report on how to implement the recommendations of the international review body. He will then report back to Cabinet with more f ormal proposals including the financial implications of such a plan.
The report recommends the following mergers/integrations:
Dublin City University with St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra and Mater Dei Institute of Education; a new campus is to be located at St Patrick’s. CICE is also involved in this process.
Trinity College Dublin with Marino Institute of Education, University College Dublin and the National College of Art and Design. In a boost for Marino, the new institute could be based at its Griffith Avenue campus. The National University of Ireland Maynooth with Froebel College. University of Limerick with Mary Immaculate College and Limerick Institute of Technology; the campus may be located at MIC. University College Cork with Cork Institute of Technology at UCC. The National University of Ireland Galway with St Angela’s College Sligo, to be based at NUI Galway. The report says smaller teacher training colleges in Letterfrack, Co Galway, and Thurles, Co Tipperary, should be closed, and St Angela’s College in Sligo, which trains home economics teachers, moved to NUI Galway.
It praises the high calibre of entrants to teacher education. It says a move to a Finnish-style system, in which all teachers are educated to master’s level, could be a longer-term aspiration for teacher education in Ireland.
www.irishtimes.com
Ranganna Gaeilge an Fhómhair
September 6, 2012
Samhail Nua Mhaoinithe diúltaithe 100%
September 5, 2012
Live in the Cookstown area and want to learn Irish? Now has never been a better time to start.
September 5, 2012
A range of beginner, intermediate and advanced classses are set to become available as part of the Liofa initiative.
Josephine McCaughey, local Irish Language Development officer explains: “As September approaches, it is time to start thinking about availing of the many opportunities to learn Irish that will be out there from mid-September on in the Cookstown and Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council areas.”
Three levels of classes are set to be offered to those living within the Cookstown and Dungannon council areas; beginners, intermediate and advanced, so that learners can learn at a pace that suits them.
The numbers of locations in which classes are being made available is constantly increasing as more and more community groups are continuing to come forward to have classses organised in their community.
The Irish Language Development Officer is very much excited at this and wants to make other groups aware that the Councils can advise and help facilitate groups to develop Irish Language activity.
Details of upcoming classes and their locations will follow in local press and on web over the coming weeks.
Josephine continued: “The beginners classes are aimed at absolute or complete beginners so you have no need to worry about not knowing any Irish, you will meet plenty of other people in the same situation and you will all be amazed at the fun and life-enrichment you have been missing out on! You will also be amazed at the amount of wee words of Irish you already use without being consciously aware of it! “
Some people may want to brush up on the Irish Language skills they acquired at school or night classes and they too, may like to attend a beginner’s class if they want to be comfortable, or even an intermediate class if they want to be challenged.
It really is down to the individual and it is important that the level is right for the individual so that they feel either comfortable or comfortably challenged.
At all three levels emphasis will be placed on confidence building, practical use of language, repetition and practise and this is often most needed at the Intermediate level.
Intermediate or improvers classes are ideally suitable for those who have achieved good results in Irish at school in GCSE or A Level and who have kept up with the language through watching TG4, listening to Raidió na Gaeltachta or for those who, through night classes, are able to hold a short conversation in Irish but may struggle to hold a lengthy conversation owing to lack of practise. Advanced classes are generally for those who are in regular contact with the language who socialise through the medium of Irish and who can speak at length in the Irish language but may need a little help with accuracy and use of proverb and idiomatic language in speaking and writing.
University of Ulster’s part-time Irish Language Diploma is unique in that it is ideally suited for both those who want to be comfortable (as the course is delivered in a methodical step-by-step approach) and simultaneously, for those who want to be challenged (as the pace is quite fast and accreditation is offered).
As a result of the Líofa campaign work is ongoing to establish an Irish Language Diploma programme in Cookstown in 2012/13 as it offers a fast-track to fluency.
The part-time Diploma programme offers flexibility as it is recognised that many of those wishing to be fluent by 2015 are learning the language in their spare time. Dr Malachy Ó Neill explains “This course is perfect for those who already have cúpla focal and who strive to; speak fluently, listen effectively, read confidently and write accurately.” Successful Diploma graduates may enter Year 2 of part-time degree course or Year 1 of full time degree course. For more information contact Malachy Ó Néill via email at gaeilge@ulster.ac.uk
Mar fhocal scoir, finally, It is well worth checking out the Oideas Gael website at www.Oideas-Gael.com as it could be very motivating to know that after attending classes in beautiful Tyrone during the Autumn/Winterof 2012/13 that there are language and cultural holidays to be explored and enjoyed in the beautiful Donegal in the Spring/Summer of 2013!
www.midulstermail.co.uk
