CAO picks and the important Irish language question
Eanáir 6, 2015
Students may be exempt from taking Irish in the Leaving Certificate if they spent a number of years in education outside of the State or if they have some learning difficulties.
A number of colleges require students to have passed Irish to enrol. UCD, Maynooth University, UCC and NUI Galway require students to pass English, Irish and a modern European language for many of their courses.
If a student has not studied Irish or a modern European language (if they have a specific learning difficulty) in school, they may apply to be exempt from these requirements. Students must apply by completing and printing relevant forms from nui.ie/college and returning them to the NUI offices in Merrion Square, Dublin.
Trinity requires students to pass English and a language other than English. If a student is not taking Irish or any other language as a result of a learning difficulty they may apply to Trinity to be exempted. Forms are available from tcd.ie.
University of Limerick has a similar requirement for English and another language, and students can apply for an exemption in writing to the college. Applicants will find more information on the admissions section of the college website.
Dublin City University and institutes of technology require entrants to present with maths and English or Irish, therefore there is no need to apply for exemptions.
35% de dhaltaí Gaeltachta ag fáil oideachais trí Bhéarla
Eanáir 6, 2015
1,698 dalta meánscoile Gaeltachta ag freastal ar scoileanna ina bhfuil an teagasc á dhéanamh trí Bhéarla agus 29 bunscoil Gaeltachta nach bhfuil ag feidhmiú go hiomlán trí mheán na Gaeilge.
35% de dhaltaí meánscoile atá ag fáil a gcuid oideachais trí mheán an Bhéarla i scoileanna Gaeltachta, de réir eolais atá faighte ag Tuairisc.ie mar thoradh ar iarratas faoin Acht um Shaoráil Faisnéise.
As na cúig mheánscoil is fiche (25) sa Ghaeltacht oifigiúil, tá sé cinn acu ina múintear ábhair eile seachas an Ghaeilge féin trí mheán an Bhéarla, de réir an eolais ón Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna.
Sa bhliain 2014, bhí 1,698 den 4,887 dalta sna meánscoileanna Gaeltachta ag freastal ar scoil ina raibh teagasc á dhéanamh trí Bhéarla.
Is iad na scoilbhlianta ar iarradh eolas lena n-aghaidh ná 2011/2012, 2012/2013, agus 2013/2014. Tá méadú beag tagtha gach bliain ó 2012 ar líon na ndaltaí i meánscoileanna i gceantair Ghaeltachta ina múintear ábhair trí Bhéarla.
Lorgaíodh eolas freisin i dtaobh an liúntais a fhaigheann múinteoirí atá ag obair i scoileanna Gaeltachta agus tugadh le fios go bhfuil an liúntas sin “iníoctha i gcás go ndéantar an teagasc ar fad trí mheán na Gaeilge”.
Cuireadh deireadh ar fad leis an liúntas do mhúinteoirí nuacheaptha i scoileanna Gaeltachta, áfach, i gciorclán de chuid na Roinne Oideachais agus Eolaíochta i 2013.
Maidir le bunscoileanna na Gaeltachta, tá 29 i gceantair oifigiúla Ghaeltachta nach bhfuil ag feidhmiú go hiomlán trí mheán na Gaeilge.
Ocht gcinn de scoileanna, as breis agus an 130 bunscoil sa Ghaeltacht i 2014, nach bhfuil ag feidhmiú trí mheán na Gaeilge in aon chor, de réir an eolais a chuir an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna ar fáil do Tuairisc.ie.
Is iad na scoileanna nach múineann aon ábhar seachas an Ghaeilge trí mheán na Gaeilge ná; Scoil Náisiúnta, Dumhach Beag, Dún na nGall; Scoil Róisín, an Clochán Liath, Dún na nGall; Scoil Náisiúnta na hAcraí, Alt an Chorráin, Dún na nGall; Valley NS, Dugort, Acaill, Maigh Eo; Scoil Náisiúnta Colmcille, An Caisleán Gearr, Gaillimh; Scoil Náisiúnta Tirellan Heights (Arda Thír Oileáin), Gaillimh; Claregalway Educate Together, Baile Chláir na Gaillimhe, Gaillimh; agus Scoil Náisiúnta Caitríona Naofa, Baile Oirthir, Ceannanas, an Mhí.
Tá 21 bunscoil sa Ghaeltacht ina múintear, ar a laghad, ábhar amháin eile trí Ghaeilge seachas an Ghaeilge féin.
‘Part-Irish’ an cur síos a dhéantar ar na scoileanna seo san eolas a cuireadh ar fáil do Tuairisc.ie faoin Acht um Shaoráil Faisnéise.
Tá formhór na scoileanna a bhfuil an lipéad ‘Part-Irish’ orthu lonnaithe i gContae Mhaigh Eo. Tá seacht gcinn acu i dTír Chonaill agus dhá cheann i gContae na Gaillimhe.
www.tuairisc.ie
Folúntas: Stiúrthóir Naíonra, Corcaigh
Eanáir 5, 2015
Stiúrthóir naíonra ag teastáil do Naíonra Bhóthar na Modhfheirme i gCorcaigh ar maidin (5 lá sa tseachtain)ó 9.00r.n. – 1.00i.n.:
Riachtanais:
– Cumas faoi leith ag obair le leanaí óga
– Scileanna cumarsáide láidre
– Gaeilge líofa (Leibhéal TEG B2 labhartha http://www.teg.ie/_fileupload/syllabi/B2_syll.pdf)
– Dianchúrsa FNT: An Cháilíocht Stiúrthóra (nó bheith sásta tabhairt faoi go luath)
– NFQ Leibhéal 6 – Maoirseacht i gCúram Leanaí
– Céim sna Luathbhlianta (NFQ L 7) mar thosaíocht
– Traenáil gharchabhrach
– Traenáil um chosaint leanaí
Iarratais:
Litir iarratais agus CV le hainmneacha bheirt mholtóra le seoladh faoin Aoine, 30 Eanáir 2015, le “Folúntas – Naíonra” scríofa mar theideal ar ríomhphost chuig Elaine Bermingham ag modelfarmroad@bestcreche.ie
Tuilleadh eolais ar fáil ó:
Elaine Bermingham,
BestCreche Model Farm Road,
IDA Technology & Business Park,
Model Farm Road,
Cork.
T: 021 4545144
E: modelfarmroad@bestcreche.ie
W: www.BestCreche.ie
Dáta Deiridh: Dé hAoine, 30 Eanáir, 2015
Mother Teresa’s old school ‘Gaelwarts’ in demand as a wedding venue
Eanáir 5, 2015
Meet the class in Dublin’s own ‘Hogwarts’ school in the building where Mother Teresa learned English.
The doors of Gael Cholaiste an Phiarsaig opened in September and accepted its first 16 students.
The Rathfarnham school is located in a former Loreto Abbey on the southside of the capital.
It has been described by many as Ireland’s answer to Hogwarts, but the students have a better name for the historic building.
“They love it here. It is the Irish answer to Hogwarts, the students call it Gaelwarts,” principal Joe Mac Suibhne told the Herald.
Revamp
It was planned for development until the crash and then Nama took the keys. Nama sold the school earlier this year to the Department of Education for a reported €2.3m.
It is the first post-primary Gaelscoil to open on the south of the Liffey in more than a decade and it’s is hoped that the entire building when completed will cater for 500 students.
It is believed that the Department of Education will need to invest a total of €12m into the building to fully revamp it. Mother Teresa of Calcutta studied English here when she came to Ireland in the 1920s.
Mr Mac Suibhne said that his young pupils do understand the significance of their school.
“It is a really beautiful building,” he said. “The school is in demand but we are only enrolling the year before students are due to start. We are not letting people enrol ten years in advance; we want to keep it fair.”
The mixed school will take in three classes of first years next September. There are currently six teachers working in the school.
“It’s a great atmosphere we have at the minute, it’s like a family. We hope to keep hold of that,” he said.
Students and staff are currently restricted to one part of the building.
“It will be refurbished as we go along,” the principal explained.
“We are actually based in the oldest part at the moment, it was built in 1725. It’s a beautiful period building.”
“The rooms are all very large, with 15ft high that all have ornate coving,” he explained.
There is also a church located within the abbey.
“The church is a fabulous building. I have people emailing me to have their weddings here,” Mr Mac Suibhne revealed.
It’s not the first time that the 250-year-old building has housed a school. Up until the mid-1990s it was Catholic boarding school for girls.
Any building work that was carried out was done very carefully and an architecture team are currently drawing up plans for the refurbishment.
www.herald.ie
Ciorcláin nua – Forbairt Ghairmiúil Leantach do Mhúinteoirí atá ag obair i dTacaíocht Foghlama agus Oideachas Speisialta
Eanáir 5, 2015
Le go mbeidh gach scoil agus seirbhís oideachais in ann freastal ar riachtanais daltaí maidir le tacaíocht foghlama agus múineadh daltaí le riachtanais speisialta oideachais, tá maoiniú á dhéanamh ag an Roinn Oideachais & Scileanna ar na cláir oiliúna seo a leanas:
- Comhchlár Dioplóma Iarchéime um Fhorbairt Ghairmiúil Leantach do Mhúinteoirí atá ag obair i dTacaíocht Foghlama agus Oideachas Speisialta – 2015/2016
- Teastas Iarchéime in Oideachas Scoláirí le Neamhoird Speictrim Uathaigh rthu (NSUanna) le haghaidh múinteoirí ag obair le Scoláirí le NSUanna orthu i Scoileanna Speisialta, i Ranganna Speisialta nó mar Mhúinteoirí Acmhainne i mBunscoileanna agus in Iar-Bhunscoileanna sa phríomhshruth – 2015/2016
- Clár Teastais/Dioplóma Iarchéime um Fhorbairt Ghairmiúil Leantach do Mhúinteoirí ag obair le Scoláirí le Riachtanais Speisialta Oideachais (Neamhoird Speictrim Uathaigh)
Tá tuilleadh eolais ar fáil ar shuíomh na Roinne Oideachais & Scileanna, www.education.ie. An dáta deiridh le haghaidh iarratas ná an 27 Feabhra 2015.
Longford given green light for new Gaelscoil
Eanáir 5, 2015
A brand new, state of the art Gaelscoil is on the cards for Longford town, the Department of Education & Skills revelaed this week.
Details of the announcement were made by Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan as part of a €2.2bn government investment package.
Building work on the new Gaelscoil an Longfoirt at Farneyhoogan will get underway next year in accordance with a five year blueprint to meet changing infrastructural and rising population demands.
One of over 270 new school projects, a Department of Education spokeswoman confirmed the new school is likely to be completed as early as 2016.
The finer points of the project, including costs and its anticipated duration were not disclosed for fear of jeopardising the tendering process.
Local Fine Gael TD James Bannon said the news could not have come at a better time for teachers and parents alike.
Equally, the spin-off benefits to the local economy would be numerous, he said.
“I am absolutely delighted that construction on a new school for Gaelscoil an Longfoirt, Fearann Úi Dhuagain will get underway in 2015,” said Deputy Bannon.
“I have no doubt that the construction of a new school will have a positive impact on the teachers, pupils and the local community; equally it will also provide a significant boost in terms of construction jobs.”
The Legan TD paid tribute to principal Yvonne Ní Mhurchú for her own efforts in helping to bring the project to fruition.
“Gaelscoil an Longfoirt, Farneyhoogan and its Principal Yvonne Ní Mhurchú have campaigned over a long number of years for upgraded facilities.
“I compliment them on their efforts, which have culminated in today’s announcement.”
Speaking to the Leader, Ms Ní Mhurchú said the latest developments amounted to a “great news story” for Longford.
She also added, “this is an indication that the Department of Education & Skills is investing in Irish language education”.
She went on to say that a number of sites were currently in the pipeline and it would be the Department and Longford Co Council that would eventually determine which site was the most suitable for a new school.
“Thank God the funding is secure for the new school; in the New Year we will get the site determined and we will then have the design team and architects on board,” she continued.
“The money has been ring fenced and the Department is putting money into Irish education here in Longford. We anticipate at this stage that the new school will take six to 12 months to complete. We are looking forward to the next 12 to 18 months.”
www.longfordleader.ie
‘Catholic first’ school admissions policies may be illegal
Eanáir 5, 2015
Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan aims to speed up process of switching patronage
School admissions policies run on a “Catholic first” basis may be in breach of both equality legislation and the Constitution, the State’s equality watchdog has been told.
A report commissioned by the Equality Authority – now part of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) – argues that article 44.2.4 of the Constitution puts an onus on Catholic schools to demonstrate exactly why positive discrimination in admissions is necessary to maintain their ethos.
The report, authored by Fergus Ryan, a lecturer in law at DIT, says: “In relation to the Catholic First policy, there is certainly at the very least a case to be answered that in its potential application to schools in receipt of state funding, the policy may be in breach of the Constitution . . . by excluding children from state-funded schools on the basis that they intend to exercise a constitutional right not to attend religious instruction therein.”
The report stops short, however, of recommending the authority take a test case on the issue.
Article 44.2.4 states that “legislation providing State aid for schools shall not discriminate between schools . . . nor be such as to affect prejudicially the right of any child to attend a school receiving public money”.
Protecting ethos
This is countered by section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000, which gives religious-run schools the right to administer admissions policies which protect their ethos.
Mr Ryan says the key point of law is that each school patron, or board of management, must show that it “is not merely desirable [in the eyes of the Catholic Church] but that it is essential to discriminate in order to maintain the school’s ethos”.
Fr Michael Drumm, chairman of Catholic Schools Partnership, the bishops’ education wing, said any suggestion that its admissions policies were unconstitutional were “speculation” in the absence of a test case.
He pointed in turn to constitutional protections allowing faith-based organisations to run their own affairs.
The IHREC said it was awaiting the outcome of a Supreme Court case on alleged discrimination against a Traveller at a Christian Brothers’ school in Clonmel, Co Tipperary before bringing further legal challenges on admissions policies. The Supreme Court is due to deliver its ruling this year on the case, which could have far reaching implications for the Equal Status Act.
Patronage issue
The legality of “Catholic first” admissions policies has come into sharper focus due to the lack of progress in divesting school patronage.
Speaking to The Irish Times in a personal capacity, the chairman of the forum on patronage and pluralism Prof John Coolahan said “there needs to be a carrot and a stick” to deliver change. Asked what sort of stick could be used, he suggested that grants might be cut in locations where schools refused to change patronage.
The Department of Education carried out surveys in 43 areas following the forum’s report in April 2012 and identified parental demand for change in 28 of them.
To date just one school – a Church of Ireland primary school in Co Mayo – has transferred to another patron, although two Catholic schools merged in Dublin 8 to create a vacant building for Educate Together.
Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan is seeking to accelerate the divestment process. She also wants clearer guidelines on how “standalone” Catholic schools – those in areas where there is no parental alternative – intend to accommodate children of other faiths and none.
It is been suggested, for example, that religious instruction might be timetabled either at the start or at the end of the school day to allow non-Catholic pupils to opt out with little fuss.
Fr Drumm said the church would early this year publish “a statement that will guide schools in best practice”. While he wouldn’t be drawn on the contents, he said it was due for publication in the spring, and he stressed that Catholic schools were already inclusive in nature.
www.irishtimes.com
Forum head calls on church to speed up schools handover
Eanáir 5, 2015
The Department of Education needs to wield a “stick” against the Catholic Church if it wants to make progress on the divestment of schools to other patrons, according to the chairman of the forum on patronage and pluralism.
Prof John Coolahan says the church’s refusal to take “a proactive stance” in promoting the divestment of schools undermined the process from the outset, and he suggests cuts in school funding might be considered to concentrate minds.
UN human rights monitors have criticised “the slow progress in increasing access to secular education” in Ireland and are warning the Government it faces fresh censure in the absence of reform.
Former minister for education Ruairí Quinn once talked about removing half of the State’s 3,100 primary schools from Catholic Church control to create a more diverse and inclusive system.
To date, however, the church has yet to hand over a single primary school to another patron, although it did merge two Catholic schools to create a vacant property for Educate Together.
One Church of Ireland school has transferred to Educate Together, the multidenominational patron which has also opened nine new primary schools in areas of growing populations.
Prof Coolahan said: “There needs to be a carrot and a stick and I think the stick wasn’t much applied as time went on.
“If there was no movement at all then I do think that you could say schools in this area – though this might be a bit crude – would have reduced capitation,” he added.
Educate Together
Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan has said she hopes to be able to announce this month plans for “three to four” further Educate Together schools, including in Tuam and New Ross.
These are two of 28 areas that have been earmarked for change on foot of parental surveys in select locations.
Prof Coolahan, who oversaw the forum’s main report in April 2012 and has contributed to subsequent update reports, suggests it was a mistake to leave the Catholic bishops, as patrons, to drive the reforms.
While they arranged for boards of management to meet parents and to discuss the merits of changing patronage, he said, “they rarely turned up themselves.
“They didn’t explain, ‘look, we would like this to happen, we think this should happen because we have concern for the public good – love your neighbour’.
“They have never taken a proactive, direct stance, using their offices to open people’s minds. They have done it at a distance.
“It was never going to happen if you were just going to leave it open like that. It always needed church and State to use their good offices at local level where there was a legitimacy of moving.”
Phasing out
In its latest report, the UN committee overseeing the implementation of the covenant on civil and political rights said it was concerned about the slow progress, not only in divesting patronage but also in creating non-denominational schools and in phasing out integrated religious curriculums in State schools.
Rapporteur for Ireland Yuval Shany told The Irish Times: “We do not have the power to sanction states but we would contend the State is under a legal obligation to take on board the recommendations in good faith.
“The way the Government undertakes these reforms is really up to the Government but it should go towards a system which offers the student options.”
www.irishtimes.com
Comórtas an Eolaí Óig 2015 do Bhunscoileanna
Eanáir 5, 2015
Ón 8ú-10ú Eanáir, glacfaidh níos mó ná 2,700 dalta ó rang a ceathair, cúig agus sé, páirt i gComórtas an Eolaí Óig i gCumann Ríoga Bhaile Atha Cliath. I measc na scoileanna a ghlacfaidh páirt ann, tá na scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge/Gaeltachta seo: Scoil na Maighdine Muire Gan Smál, Camus, Gaelscoil Eois, Cluain Eois, agus Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan, Gort Lán Rua, an tAonach. Déanfaidh a gcuid tionscadal ranga na ceisteanna suimiúla seo a fhreagairt: ‘Cén toradh citris a bhfuil an méid is mó vitimín C ann?’, ‘Cén tionchar atá ag siúcra ar do leibhéal corpacmhainne?’ agus ‘Blas. Cén fáth go n-athraíonn sé?’.
Seo tuilleadh eolais maidir le tionscamh Rang 4 Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan:
Hipitéis ár dtionscnaimh is ea ‘Cén tionchar atá ag siúcra ar d’aclaíocht?’ Sular thosaigh an rang an mionscrúdú seo, cheap an rang go mbeadh sé/sí in ann rith níos tapúla ar feadh tréimhse níos faide. Rinneamar tuar thar 3 seachtaine chun an hipitéis a freagairt. Ghlac an rang páirt i dtrialacha ama; rith ar feadh aon nóiméad, léim ar feadh 30 soicind agus Squats ar feadh 30 soicind. Chomh maith leis sin, rinneamar suirbhé de na ranganna sinsir (Rang 2-6) chun fáil amach an raibh a fhios acu faoin damáiste a dhéanann siúcra don chorp agus an itheann daltaí níos mó ná an meán siúcra. Bhain an rang sárthaitneamh as páirt a ghlacadh sa tionscnamh. D’obrigh Rang 4 an-chrua agus rinneadar gaisce mar eolaithe.
Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoin gcomórtas, tabhair cuairt ar www.rds.ie/primarysciencefair
Comórtas Ealaíne an Fhorais Phátrúnachta 2015
Eanáir 5, 2015
Bhí an-rath ar Chomórtas Ealaíne an Fhorais Phátrúnachta anuraidh agus tá áthas orainn a fhógairt go mbeidh sé ar ais arís don scoilbhliain 2014/2015!
Tá comórtas na scoilbhliana seo urraithe ag Foras na Gaeilge agus beidh duaiseanna den scoth ar fáil.
Tugaimid cuireadh do dhaltaí i mbunscoileanna agus i meánscoileanna an Fhorais páirt a glacadh sa chomórtas. An téama atá ann don scoilbhliain seo ná ‘Gaeloideachas do Chách’.
Tá cúig rannóg éagsúil ann agus tá fón cliste, Nintendo Wii, táibléid agus tuilleadh i measc na nduaiseanna a bhronnfar!
Dúirt Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, Ard Rúnaí ar an bhForas Pátrúnachta: “D’éirigh go hiontach leis an gcomórtas ealaíne anuraidh. Ghlac go leor scoileanna páirt agus bhí an caighdeán fíor ard go deo.
“Anuraidh bronnadh duaiseanna iontacha ar na buaiteoirí agus tá an áthas orainn i mbliana go bhfuil duaiseanna bhreá eile ar fáil. Táimid an-sásta go bhfuil Foras na Gaeilge ag déanamh urraíocht ar an gcomórtas agus tá aiseolas an-dearfach faighte againn ó na scoileanna cheana féin.”
Is é an 6 Feabhra 2015 an sprioc d’iarratais. Fógrófar na buaiteoirí ag Comhdháil an Fhorais Phátrúnachta ar 28 Feabhra 2015 sa Red Cow Moran Hotel. Tá gach eolas faoin gcomórtas ar fáil ar www.foras.ie
