Quinn pushes on with Junior Cert reform despite protests
Márta 11, 2014
The planned replacement of the Junior Certificate with a system which will see teachers marking their own students is being pushed ahead by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn.
This is despite a protest at schools today and an impending vote by 27,000 secondary teachers against co-operation with the plan. Mr Quinn has issued a letter to the country’s 730 second-level schools setting out the arrangements for the introduction of the Junior Cycle Student Award from next September, when first year students are to be prepared for assessment in English from 2016 as the first subject to undergo changes for certification in 2017.
Members of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland and the Teachers’ Union of Ireland are being asked in a ballot not to take part, or in training or related assessments, and the unions expect a show of strength at an unofficial protest called at school gates this lunchtime. While classes will not be disrupted, teachers want the public to understand their concerns about standards in the proposed system, having taken out newspaper ads on the issue yesterday. Their primary concern is that students will no longer have their work examined externally by the State Examinations Commission. The unions have argued that Mr Quinn did not consult on the idea of school-based assessment, but he maintains that the aim of the changes is to end the high-stakes nature of the Junior Certificate because 90% of students go on to sit the Leaving Certificate.
The ASTI and TUI want external assessment for final exams maintained to uphold the integrity of the system, and also have concerns about what they say is inadequate teacher training provision. While Mr Quinn made some concessions in January on additional professional development, and reducing the rate at which subjects will be added for revised modes of assessment, he has also committed to consider any proposals of a working group in which unions have engaged over the past two months with his department, and other stakeholders on professional development, assessment, and resourcing schools.
“If the minister accepts recommendations from the working group, then of course they will be implemented as soon as possible,” Mr Quinn’s spokesperson said. However, the issuing of the circular letter means he is standing firm on the over-riding principle of school-based assessment, which could also harden opposition. Fine Gael members voted at their ard fheis 10 days ago that the party should call on him to reverse this element of the JCSA, although TDs and senators voted against the motion after delegates were told it opposed Government policy.
www.irishexaminer.com
Halla lán do Bhuntaiste Breise na Gaeilge
Márta 11, 2014
D’fhreastal na sluaite ar an seimineár fostaíochta do mhicléinn iarbhunscoile ‘Buntáiste Breise na Gaeilge’ a tionóladh ins an Óstán Seven Oaks, Ceatharlach le déanaí.
Thángadar ó na scoileanna áitiúla Acadamh Naomh Mhuire, Gairmscoil Cheatharlach, Coláiste an Chnoic Bhig agus Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach chomh maith le Scoil Airgeal Bhaile Éil i gCo. Chill Chainnigh agus ó Choláiste Bhríde i gCo. Chill Mhantáin. Cé go raibh an halla lán go béal thug na daoine óga cluas le héisteachta do na haoichainteoirí agus iad ag labhairt leo faoin mbuntáiste breise a thugann an Ghaeilge dóibh féin ina saoil pearsanta agus a ngairmeacha beatha.
Brighid Ní Ghríofa as Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge a d’eagraigh an seimineár mar chuid de shraith an-rathúil fud fad na tíre agus bhí Kevin de Barra, Uachtarán na Comhdhála ina fhear a tí éifeachtach agus spreagúil. B’iad na haoichainteoirí a bhí i láthair ar an lá ná an t-aisteoir aitheanta Barry Barnes, Emma Uí Bhroin a labhair faoin obair a dhéanann sí mar Oifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge le Glór Cheatharlach, an t-abhcóide Cynthia Ní Mhurchú a rinne cur síos ar a post féin chomh maith leis an tréimhse a chaith sí mar láithreoir teilifíse agus Liam Ó Néill, Uachtarán CLG a thug léargas ar an tábhacht atá leis an nGaeilge mar aon le súil siar ar a shaol mar phríomhoide scoile. Tar éis na n-oráidí fíor spéisiúil uile bhí seisiún breá bríomhar nuair a fuair na mic léinn an deis deis chun ceisteanna a chur ar bhaill an phainéil. Agus bhí roinnt duaiseanna le buachaint chomh maith.
I láthair freisin bhí ionadaithe ó roinnt institiúidí tríú leibhéal chun eolas a thabhairt do na daltaí scoile faoi na deiseanna oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge atá ann dóibh. Ócáid álainn a bhí ann agus bhain idir dhaltaí agus múinteoirí, aoíchainteoirí agus lucht eagraithe taitneamh agus tairbhe as an seimineár.
www.carlow-nationalist.ie
Cláir Oideachais ar TG4
Márta 11, 2014
Cuirfidh idir mhúinteoirí agus mhicléinn iarbhunscoile fáilte roimh dhá chlár oideachais a chraolfar ar TG4 i rith an lae scoile i Mí an Mhárta.
Treoir don bhéaltriail a bheidh faoi chaibidil sa chlár “Cuireadh Chun Cainte” a chraolfar ar an gCéadaoin, 19ú Márta ag 2.30i.n. Le daltaí ag ullmhú do na scrúduithe cainte don ardteistiméireacht is cinnte go mbeidh lucht féachana ard i seomraí ranga mórthimpeall na tíre don chraoladh tráthúil seo. Ar an gCéadaoin, 26ú Márta ag 2.30i.n. a chraolfar clár dar teideal “Céim Chun Tosaigh; Ag Obair le Gaeilge”. Séard atá i gceist sa chlár áirithe seo ná eolas a chur ar fáil maidir le cúrsaí tríú leibhéil, deiseanna oiliúna agus na deiseanna éagsúla a bheidh ar fáil do scoláirí tar éis na scrúduithe Ardteiste. Beidh deis eile an dá chlár a fheiceáil nuair a chraolfar iad maidin Dé Sathairn, 22ú Márta ag tosnú ar 11.00. Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge a chuir ábhar na gclár ar fáil agus is féidir tuilleadh eolais a fháil ar www.gaelport.com.
www.carlow-nationalist.ie
Teachers to hold lunchtime demonstrations today
Márta 11, 2014
Protests outside schools add to pressure over introduction of junior cycle reform
With nationwide demonstrations today, teachers’ unions and the Department of Education are both increasing the pressure over the introduction of junior cycle reform. The unions are staging a lunchtime protest outside schools, demonstrating against the changes sought by the department, including continual assessment of students by teachers. Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn, in a counter-move, has issued a formal departmental circular to principals and boards of management setting out how and when the junior cycle changes must be introduced this autumn.“We want to send a clear signal to parents, students, teachers and the education partners that we are proceeding with junior cycle reform because it is the right thing to do for the students,” a department spokeswoman said yesterday. “It is a signal from the Minister and the department we are determined to proceed on the reform of the junior cycle from September.”
Lunchtime protest
Union presidents Sally Maguire of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) and Gerard Craughwell of the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) will lead the national lunchtime protests from Newpark Comprehensive School in Blackrock, Co Dublin. The protest will involve a short rally, with similar demonstrations outside second-level schools across the State. Regular school business will not be disrupted by the action and normal supervision arrangements will remain in place, the unions said. The contents of the circular were up for discussion last January 17th, when education partners including unions, the department, principals and school boards held a working group meeting. The goal was to avoid a clash over the planned junior cycle reforms, but it failed to defuse the situation. Instead the TUI decided to ballot its members on non- co-operation with the department’s reform proposals. Ballot papers will be issued today, with the ballot closing on March 26th. “We acknowledge the publication of this circular letter but it changes nothing as far as we are concerned. “Regrettably it fails to address the issue of resources required to implement the programme,” said Mr Craughwell. Damage The unions believe the reforms could cause lasting damage to the education system. “We believe that student achievement in the new junior cycle must be externally assessed and nationally certified.”
The ASTI was equally dismissive of the circular. “There is nothing new in the circular that wasn’t said on January 17th,” a spokeswoman said. Special training had been planned for teachers, but this amounted to only one day of training up to next September. The ASTI also had a problem with plans to bring in continual assessment to replace a terminal examination. “The English teachers simply don’t know what they are supposed to be doing on continual assessment,” she said. “It [the circular] doesn’t address the key issues for teachers, so nothing has changed,” the ASTI spokeswoman added.
www.irishtimes.com
Irish language under threat
Márta 10, 2014
Sir, – As happens every year or so, the proxy debate over the Irish language rages between those who are “for” it and those “against” it.
I say proxy, because the debate is ostensibly between different theories or value judgments about culture or about one sentiment or another in the letter writers. But only ostensibly. The real issue is not about those different judgments or sentiments of one person or another. It is about the degree to which the judgments and sentiments of one group in society is imposed on another group through the exercise of State power in the education system. The whole debate could disappear by the simple action of making Irish a subject of choice in the Leaving Certificate. Then each contesting group could follow their own judgment and sentiment without having to persuade any other group of their infallibility and without having to take exceptional measures to impose their will on others. – Yours, etc,
DONAL FLYNN
Breffni Terrace,
Sandycove, Co Dublin.
A chara, – While Jason Fitzharris (March 5th) may be correct as to the proportion of census forms filled out in Irish, we must ask why the figure is so low. One valid reason is that the choice is not presented to the participant on the spot, suggesting that they are not available. I had to specially request my form. More hassle to me and to the collectors. If, as in Canada, we had an “active offer” of either language giving citizens a real choice, there would be higher uptake. – Is mise,
MAITIÚ de HÁL,
Páirc na Canálach Ríoga,
Baile an Ásaigh,
Baile Átha Cliath 15.
www.irishtimes.com
Irish was path to a job for life
Márta 10, 2014
Madam — I fully agree with the view expressed by Declan Lynch ‘A monument to our national failure’, ( Sunday Independent, March 2, 2014).
No doubt, there were Gaelgoirs who made a career out of being proficient in Irish as it ensured they had a job for life. In the early years of the State’s birth, this was important as the only alternative was the emigrant ship. There was a man I dealt with regularly over the years in business. In many conversations during our working relationship, he told me he was an enthusiastic Irish speaker as a young man in the early years of the new Irish State.
He, like many of his colleagues at that time, went to Irish classes to perfect their native tongue. Years later he met one of his former classmates in town. He greeted him warmly and addressed him by his English name. His former friend told him that he had changed his name years earlier and was now known only by his Irish name. And the cynical reason was that he realised early on in his career that if he became a fully fledged Gaelgoir, he would never be out of a job!
Those who were not cute enough to see the career opportunity took the boat to England. Would it not have been better to teach them good English rather than be seen as the thick Irish when they looked for jobs over there?
Brendan M Redmond,
Terenure,
Dublin 6w
www.independent.ie
Language shapes our very thoughts
Márta 10, 2014
Madam — Declan Lynch ( Sunday Independent, March 2, 2014), misses the point.
Language matters. It forms our thoughts and shapes our lives. The Irish language, because of exclusion from public life, has gone from being the majority language in the early 1800s to being a minority language today. This was the greatest social change in Irish history. Imagine had England been conquered and its language replaced by Spanish, French or German. Imagine an English population unable to read Shakespeare except in translation and cut off from their own history. Imagine the effect this would have on the psyche, confidence and sense of self. Now consider Ireland: an Anglophone State where officialdom uses Irish as an ornament, if even that.
Our English-only mentality costs us export markets and jobs. Our negativity toward speaking Irish saps morale. We need to open our minds to the wider world. Rejection of Irish, no matter how it is presented by Declan, is profoundly negative and shameful, rejecting as it does normal curiosity as to the meaning of place names, common surnames and historical sources. America and Australia are offshoots of English culture. We are not. Americans promoting English is an affirmation of self. The Danes learnt English without abandoning Danish and have a stronger economy than we have. Small open economies with educated multilingual confident populations do well.
It’s high time to stop being in awe of the Dutch or Finnish multilingual and become Irish multilinguals. Speaking Irish makes Ireland sound and feel like a regular European country. It is the recovery of our intellectual and cultural sovereignty and contributes to an inclusive Irish identity beyond colour or creed.
Dáithí Mac Cárthaigh, BL,
An Leabharlann Dlí,
Baile Átha Cliath 7
www.independent.ie
Oireachtas call for new school admissions process welcomed
Márta 10, 2014
Parents’ groups have welcomed an Oireachtas committee’s recommendation for a new “independent and transparent appeals process” to oversee schools’ admissions policies.
Áine Lynch, chief executive of the National Parents Council – Primary, said planned legislation aimed at standardising such policies should lead to fewer appeals but “parents do need someone else to go to” when schools fail to adhere to their own admissions policies or national guidelines.
The draft Admissions to School Bill proposes to remove the current system, known as a section 29 appeal, wherbye parents can appeal decisions to the Department of Education.
School managers have expressed some concerns about creating a new appeals process, arguing it may lead to more bureaucracy and create false expectations for parents.
However, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection comes down in favour of an independent appeals mechanism, saying “this could possibly be provided for on a regional basis”.
It says: “Consideration should also be given, in the context of such a process, to provide for independent appeals in relation to the refusal of a school to offer a pupil a place in Transition Year.”
The National Parents Council – Secondary welcomed a separate recommendation for the department to provide resources “within a statutory timeframe” to any school designated to enrol a student with special educational needs.
“If Ruairí Quinn is going to have this new admissions policy he needs to put in place the systems to ensure special educational needs are met, ” the organisation’s spokeswoman, Lynda O’Shea said.
She said her local school in Waterford, St Paul’s, was the only school in the city with units to cater for the needs of children with autism but these were now full, with a waiting list of about eight children.
Alluding to discussions about the Catholic Church surrendering patronage, the committee said: “Multiple patronage and ethos as a basis for policy can lead to segregation and inequality in the education system. The objectives of admission policy should be equality and integration.”
Atheist Ireland welcomed this statement in particular, calling it as “a significant and strongly-worded conclusion”.
www.irishtimes.com
€12m project to turn Loreto into a school again
Márta 10, 2014
Historical Rathfarnham landmark Loreto Abbey is to be restored and turned into a school once again.
The building – where Mother Teresa studied English in Dublin – is coming under the control of the Department of Education and will become a gaelscoil for the region. The Department has purchased the property from NAMA through estate agent Savills for approximately €2.3m.
However, it will need at least a further €10m to transform the 250-year-old complex into a modern educational facility. The building has a protected listed status and has been empty for 15 years after the 1999 purchase by a company owned by developer Liam Carroll. After Carroll went bankrupt, the site was taken over by NAMA before it was put up for sale last August.
The roof was recently weatherproofed by NAMA and the house was occupied by live-in “guardians” provided by the UK-based property minding company Camelot.
The Department of Education said it would not comment on conversion costs due to “commercial sensitivities”. However they said they are “satisfied” the property meets their needs.
The renovation costs will cost significantly more than the amount needed to build a new school. But considering the fact that the State would have to rescue it anyway and is under pressure to create new schools in Dublin, the move is being described by property sources as “killing two birds with one stone”.
The main building, Rathfarnham House, was constructed in 1725. The architect, Edward Lovett Pearce, was best known for the old Houses of Parliament at College Green.
Closed in the late nineties, Loreto had been a famous boarding school for Catholic girls. Its most famous pupil was Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who went there to learn English in the 1920s, at the age of 18.
www.herald.ie
President Higgins’s remarks on Irish
Márta 10, 2014
A chara, – It was somewhat ironic that the reception hosted by President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin in honour of Seán Ó Cuirreáin (“Lack of services in Irish dismays Higgins”, Home News, March 6th) took place at exactly the same time as Minister of State for the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley was being questioned at an Oireachtas subcommittee on the issues raised by Mr Ó Cuirreáin’s decision to retire early from his post as the State’s first coimisinéir teanga.
Speaking “as President of Ireland”, Mr Higgins stated that he was “greatly concerned at the apparent low level of ability to fulfil the rights of citizens who wish to interact through Irish with the State and its agencies”.
Reporting on the big march that took place in Dublin a few weeks ago, your Irish language editor Pól Ó Muirí (Bileog, February 19th) remarked on the gulf which exists between the Irish-speaking community and the general English-speaking public, saying they hardly inhabited the same planet, let alone the same country! As one of the thousands of people who marched down O’Connell Street that day on our way to the Dáil, I have to admit you could not help noticing the puzzled look on the faces of Saturday shoppers as they waited patiently for the buses which were backed up behind us.
A lot of these onlookers, I’d say, were thinking to themselves, have that crowd nothing better to protest about? Haven’t they got recognition for Irish as a core school subject, haven’t they got their own radio and TV stations funded by the Government, haven’t they got the constitutional right to use Irish in their dealings with the state? We Gaeilgeoirí have to acknowledge that the general public would be quite correct on the first two of these propositions – Irish does still hold a central place in our education system, and Raidió na Gaeltachta and TG4 are both excellent stations which punch far above their weight.
Where the general public’s perception falls down is on the third proposition – that we Irish speakers have the right to use Irish in our dealings with the State. In theory and under the Constitution this may be the case, but in practice it is usually impossible or else extremely difficult to use Irish for official purposes. This has long been the weakness in the State’s overall policy on the Irish language. As Mr Ó Cuirreáin put it, the State imposes a duty on students to learn the language and then frequently puts obstacles in their way of using it for official purposes.
I know a section of the public will still say, so what? But the point is that it does not make sense for any of us if one arm of the State is contradicting what another arm of it is trying to facilitate. If, as a country, we want Irish to survive even as a small minority language, the State will have to take the practical steps necessary to provide for the right of Irish speakers to use the language in the public sphere. As a former civil servant myself, I’m convinced that this is above all a question of political and administrative will and does not have to involve any extra resources.
No language can survive if its use is confined to just private and domestic contexts. A lot of us now feel we can only practice the language with other consenting adults behind closed doors. No wonder people look at us as if we had two heads the odd time we muster the courage to march down the main street of our capital city. – Is mise,
JOHN GLENNON,
Bannagroe,
Hollywood, Co Wicklow.
www.irishtimes.com
