Caribbean and Irish pupils speak as Gaeilge over Skype
Márta 13, 2014
Separated by thousands of miles, but not by a common language.
History was made yesterday when a gaelscoil hooked up for the first time on Skype with a primary school in the Caribbean, and they both conversed as Gaeilge. Ireland and Montserrat, also known as the Emerald isle, are the only two nations in the world which hold public holidays to mark St Patrick’s Day, and it’s believed it was also the first Skype link between the two islands. Many surnames on Montserrat are Irish as most of its population are descended from Irish slaves who were sent there in the 17th century and married black slaves working on plantations. The idea for the Skype link-up came from freelance journalist, Graham Clifford, from Fermoy, Co Cork. He was on the tropical island yesterday ensuring the transmission went smoothly between Gaelscoil de hÍde, in his hometown and St Augustine’s primary school which is on the outskirts of Monserrat’s capital Plymouth.
Graham’s daughters Molly and Aoife attend the gaelscoil and were able to say hello to him along with their classmates. In both schools, the children dressed up to mark the occasion. To the delight of teachers in Fermoy the Montserrat children sang ‘Ó ró sé do bheatha abhaile’ in almost perfect Irish. Their charges replied with ‘Trasna na dTonna’ (Across the Waves). Both sets of children then spoke to their counterparts of their lives and the type of education they’re receiving. “To see the children on both islands chatting away and singing and dancing for each other was something else. Here on Montserrat they are aware they have Irish heritage, but through this interaction they got to see it in action,” Graham said. “We’ve been organising this call for weeks and in that time they’ve been learning Irish songs and dances, decorating their school in green, white and orange and learning about Ireland. Even if I meet one of the children walking down the street or strolling along the beach on the island they’d roar out ‘Céad míle Fáilte’,” he added.
St Augustine’s principal Claudia Skerritt said it was a wonderful experience for her pupils and would “make the St Patrick’s Day celebrations on Montserrat all the more special”. Their parish priest, Fr George Aggers, who is originally from Cobh, said the children “were very excited and thankfully remembered the ‘cúpla focals’ I taught them.” Gaelscoil de hÍde principal Sean Mac Gearailt said his pupils and teachers were thrilled with the link-up. “I hope we will do more of this with St Augustine’s into the future whereby the pupils can exchange on Skype, through emails and letters. ” he said. “It will help us to exchange ideas and learn more about each other’s history, education and resources. It worked a treat, it was fantastic. There was great credit to the teachers over there to teach their pupils Irish. It just goes to show we have a shared heritage and language, even though we are thousands of miles apart.”
www.irishexaminer.com
Changes to junior cycle education
Márta 13, 2014
A chara, – I think it is necessary to remind the Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn,
regarding his plans for the Junior Cycle Student Award programme, that the substantial changes and improvements that have taken place in Irish education over the past 20 years were all implemented and delivered by teachers – the introduction of transition year, the Leaving Certificate vocational programme and the Leaving Certificate applied programme (the last of which is probably the reason that Ireland has the highest student retention rate in Europe).
We have welcomed greater integration of children with special educational needs and learning difficulties into mainstream education, adapting our educational provision and methodologies to their needs. Social, personal and health education (SPHE) and civic, social and political education (CSPE) have come on stream at Junior Cert level. Practical examinations and project work form part of the assessment of almost all practical subjects, and many schools have also introduced the oral Irish exam at Junior Certificate level. All schools have embraced technology in the classroom, and numerous changes to syllabuses, the latest being Project Maths.
All these changes have been embraced by teachers in an effort to improve the suitability and quality of the education we provide on a daily basis to students all over this country. Teachers are not opposed to change. We welcome it. We are at the coal face of education, seeing the changing needs of our students every day, and yet Mr Quinn refuses to listen to us. Not a very good example for the children of the country, and nor would their teachers be if we sat back and were bullied into introducing a flawed educational programme rather than standing up to protect the rights of the students in our care. – Is mise,
GEAROIDÍN O’DWYER,
Abberley,
Killiney, Co Dublin.
Sir, – This is a plea to Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn to speak to the Welsh minister for education Huw Lewis before he changes the Junior Cert. On Newsnight recently he was asked why Wales had plummeted in international school rankings. The reply – they had changed from state exams to individual school assessments. We need to up our game here, not drop it. – Yours,
MAURA McSWEENEY,
Mount Albany,
Blackrock, Co Dublin.
www.irishtimes.com
Céad míle fáilte for new Irish language commissioner
Márta 13, 2014
THERE was a céad míle fáilte for Rónán Ó Domhnaill at Áras an Uachtaráin where he was appointed as the new Irish language commissioner.
President Michael D Higgins signed the warrant of appointment at the Áras at a ceremony which was attended by family members. Connemara-native Mr Ó Domhnaill (38) is well known for his work as a political correspondent with Nuacht RTÉ and TG4. His wife, Irene Ní Nualláin, who is a reporter with TG4 nuacht, and the couple’s two daughters Róisín (2) and Maeve (1) attended the ceremony where the new commissioner was presented with his seal of office, alongside the Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley.
www.independent.ie
An mbraitheann slánú na Gaeilge ar thacaíocht rialtais?
Márta 13, 2014
Le Seachtain na Gaeilge faoi lán seoil, agus muid ag druidim go tapa i dtreo Lá Fhéile Phádraig, tá pobal na Gaeilge ag ceiliúradh na teanga, an chultúir agus na hoidhreachta.
D’ainneoin sin, seo tréimhse neamhchinnteachta mar gheall ar an tacaíocht atá ar fáil do phobal na Gaeilge ón rialtas, agus faoi cén saghas cuma a bheidh ar eagraíochtaí Gaeilge as seo amach.
Chuir Meon Eile an cheist “An mbraitheann slánú na Gaeilge ar thacaíocht rialtais?” ar dhaoine an tseachtain seo. Seo a bhí le rá acu…
Anocht, ag 19:30 i gCultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiach i mBéal Feirste, tionólfar díospóireacht phoiblí ar an ábhar seo, le Páidí Ó Lionáird mar chathaoirleach.
Rachaidh Alan Titley, Muireann Ní Mhóráin, Donncha Ó hÉallaithe, Dónal Ó Cnáimhsí agus Pilib Mac Cathmhaoil i mbun díospóireachta ar an ábhar agus táthar ag súil le plé spleodrach uathu.
Féach an físeán ar www.meoneile.ie
Dioplóma Iarchéime san Aistriúchán agus san Eagarthóireacht (Ar Líne)
Márta 13, 2014
Tá éileamh i gcónaí ar dhaoine a bhfuil ardscileanna acu sa Ghaeilge scríofa, san aistriúchán agus san eagarthóireacht. Tá an Dioplóma Iarchéime san Aistriúchán agus san Eagarthóireacht (Ar Líne) dírithe ar dhaoine atá ag iarraidh barr feabhais a chur ar a gcuid scileanna teanga agus cáilíocht ghairmiúil a bhaint amach. Is cúrsa páirtaimseartha ar líne a mhaireann dhá bhliain atá ann. Faigheann rannpháirtithe cleachtadh praiticiúil ar raon leathan téacsanna a aistriú ó Bhéarla go Gaeilge agus ó Ghaeilge go Béarla. Cuirtear aonaid foghlama ar fáil ar ardán Moodle gach seachtain, áit a mbíonn plé ar ghné faoi leith den aistriúchán. Déanann an teagascóir mion tráchtaireacht ar chleachtaí ó sheachtain go seachtain, ag díriú aird na rannpháirtithe ar cheisteanna cruinnis agus ar chúrsaí stíle agus tugann comhairle maidir le conas na deacrachtaí is coitianta san aistriúchán Gaeilge a shárú.
Is ar líne a chuirtear obair uile an chúrsa ar fáil. Bíonn ceardlann amháin ar siúl i Má Nuad ag tús na bliana acadúla sa chéad bhliain agus sa dara bliain. Déantar staidéar ar dhá mhodúl go comhuaineach i ngach seimeastar. Tá obair leanúnach ag dul le gach modúl agus bíonn scrúduithe i ngach modúl in Ollscoil na hÉireann Má Nuad ag deireadh na bliana acadúla.
Riachtanais Iontrála: Bunchéim agus pas i scrúdú iontrála teanga.
Scrúdú Iontrála: 21 Meitheamh 2014.
Scrúdú Samplach: http://www.nuim.ie/language-centre/our-courses/dioplóma-iarchéime-san-aistriúchán-agus-san-eagarthóireacht-ar-líne
Iarratais: Déan iarratas ar www.pac.ie leis an gcód MH51C.
Spriocdháta le haghaidh Iarratas: 6 Meitheamh 2014.
Táillí: €2,000 in aghaidh na bliana. Tá scoláireachtaí ar fáil don bheirt a gheobhaidh na torthaí is fearr sa scrúdú iontrála. Clúdóidh an scoláireacht táillí iomlána an chúrsa.
Tuilleadh Eolais: www.nuim.ie/language
Teagmháil: teanga@nuim.ie nó (01) 708 6417/3737.
Teagmhálaí: Aisling Ní Bheacháin
Seoladh: Dioplóma Iarchéime san Aistriúchán agus san Eagarthóireacht (Ar Líne), Ionad na dTeangacha, Ollscoil na hÉireann Má Nuad, Má Nuad, Co. Chill Dara.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Bainisteoir Oideachais
Márta 13, 2014
Tá Coláiste UISCE ag cuardú Bainisteoir Oideachais nua.
Is post dúshlánach, freagrach in Ionad Eachtraíochta Gaeilge é seo lonnaithe i gcroí-lár Gaeltacht Mhaigh Eo. Is post lán-aimseartha buan atá i gceist.
Tá réimse leathan dualgais i gceist don Bhainisteoir Oideachais, san áireamh; freagracht as Polasaí Gaeilge a chur i bhfeidhm san Ionad agus sa cheantar, Cúrsaí Gaeltachta a reáchtáil agus a rith go héifeachtach, foireann oideachais a bhainistiú, seirbhísí riaracháin agus custaiméara chomh maith le plean gnó a fhorbairt agus tionscnaimh faoi leith a bhainistiú. Tuilleadh eolais ag http://uisce.ie/jobs/ nó seol r-phost chuig jobs@uisce.ie
Riachtanais Riachtanach:
- Líofacht sa Ghaeilge
- Céim tríú leibhéal (NFQ leibhéal 7 +)
- Scileanna scríbhneoireachta den scoth i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla
- Taithí 3 bliana bainistíochta
- Scileanna Ríomhaireachta den scoth
- Taithí ag bainistiú buiséadaí
- Carr féin le ceadúnas iomlán glan
- Scileanna idirphearsanta agus ceannaireachta maithe agus ard-scileanna cumarsáide
Riachtanais Inmhianaithe:
- Céim sa Ghaeilge
- Cáilíocht san oideachas
- Scileanna eagrúcháin
- Éifeachtach ag bainistiú struis
- Scileanna ball foirne den scoth
- Scileanna straitéiseach i gcúrsaí gnó
- Bainisteoir maith ama
CV agus litir iarratais chuig jobs@uisce.ie roimh an 28/03/14
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
‘Ruairi Quinn wants to see himself as the man who changed the system’
Márta 12, 2014
IT’S more about his name than the students.
That’s according to 27,000 protesting teachers who believe that Education Minister Ruairi Quinn will ruin relationships between teachers and their parents. One union official claimed that Mr Quinn was “trying to make a name for himself ” with the shake-up of the Junior Cert. Sean Carr, a learning resources and PE teacher at 850-pupil St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny, was joined on the picket line by several colleagues, including Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan ( also PE) and Donegal GAA All Star Colm McFadden (maths). They were joined by their colleagues in a protest at more changes being introduced in schools.
“Ruairi Quinn wants to see himself as the man who changed the system and to make a name for himself,” said Mr Carr, a shop steward. “The fact is this is being rushed through. We’re all for change and teachers don’t mind change as long as it makes sense and we are given the time to implement them. “He (Quinn) hasn’t consulted us, isn’t providing the support we need and has ignored us. “This, of course, is all happening at a time when our nearest neighbours in Britain are moving towards scrapping the assessment- led GCSEs and bringing back O Levels.” Just across the Co Donegal town, teachers on Ireland’s newest school campus have similar fears. The Irish- language-medium Colaiste Ailigh’s new € 7m school building opened three months ago after 10 years of portacabins. “Taking away independent assessment will destroy the relationships between teachers and parents,” said Celine Gallagher, an Irish-speaking French native who teaches English and French to some of the school’s 220 pupils.
Concerns
“We welcome change but this system will not be right for our children and they are the people who count.” Her colleague, Seosamh Mac Ceallabbhui, who teaches Junior Cert maths, said: “Taking away independent assessment is a major problem. Parents unhappy with marks will be coming to knock on our doors and that will change the dynamic between all the stakeholders. It will cause friction.” The defiant mood of teachers was reflected at the other end of the country, in Cork. “This is all about getting the minister and the Department of Education to listen to our concerns,” one teacher protesting in Bishopstown said. “All we are pleading for is some consultation and an assurance that our concerns will be acted upon,” she added. Protests were mounted throughout Cork city and county as the ASTI and TUI united to voice their fears about the proposals. Teacher unions have warned that further protests will be mounted if their concerns are not taken into account.
www.independent.ie
27,000 teachers protest over reform
Márta 12, 2014
TUI members have ‘no confidence’ in plan for new secondary school junior cycle
Teachers protested against the new junior cycle plans yesterday as the Minister for Education defended the programme and rejected claims that the reforms were moving too fast. Staff from up to 750 schools across the country voiced their opposition to the new Junior Cycle Student Award programme they feel would “downgrade” secondary-level education. The demonstration of up to 27,000 teachers was organised by the Teacher’s Union of Ireland (TUI) and ASTI. The Irish Times spoke to TUI president Gerard Craughwell during the protest at Newpark Comprehensive School in Blackrock. He said teachers were angry at Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn’s failure to listen to their concerns. ‘Dangerous experiment’ “This is happening today because of the levels of frustration teachers are feeling,” he said. “We have no confidence in the Minister’s plan. What scares the living hell out of all of us is this is due to start in September. I think this is a dangerous experiment with children’s lives and children’s futures.”
Mr Craughwell said teachers wanted the Government to take another year to examine the plan and sit down for talks. “It’s about the education system we cherish – we built it and we’ll be damned if we let someone destroy it. “Academics are complaining about our own system being dumbed down already and this will make things worse. It’s a grand experiment that has already failed in the UK.” ASTI president Sally Maguire said teachers believed the proposals posed serious threats to education standards. “The key issue here is the assessment: there is no transparency. And how will it be implemented? Will it be the same in Wexford as it is Galway?” Defending changes Mr Quinn has defended the pace of the reforms and rejected claims they would damage the system and affect the performance of pupils. Speaking outside Leinster House yesterday, he said he had slowed down the process to allow full consultation, training and preparation.
“What was supposed to be completed by June 2020, is now going to be stretched out to June 2022,” he said. Mr Quinn said there was some flexibility, but the tradition of having a State examination at the end of third year would no longer happen. “I want to hear from the teachers. They can’t just say we don’t like this and we don’t want to do it. That ship has left the harbour,” he said. Both unions are holding a ballot from their members up to and including strike. The results will be announced on March 26th.
www.irishtimes.com
Airgead le sábháil? Glac é ó na Gaeil arís
Márta 12, 2014
Agus Seachtain na Gaeilge in ard a réime, tá cúis úr cheiliúrtha aimsithe agam do Ghaeil na hÉireann.
Is cosúil gur sinne is tréine atá ag ciorrú agus ag gearradh i ré na déine. Tá páistí ag déanamh Rith 2014 ó Bhaile Bhuirne go Béal Feirste — 750 ciliméadar — agus ‘ fhad is atá siad ag rith tá sceanairt á déanamh ar eagraíochtaí agus irisí ar nós Nós, Beo, Feasta agus An tUltach ( ar dheis) ar mhaithe le pinginí a shábháil don ‘ré úr’ a bhreac le déanaí don teanga. Agus na daltaí scoile seo ag iompar lóchrann an dóchais ó cheann ceann na tíre, tá gortghlanadh gan réamhshampla á dhéanamh ar thírdhreach na teanga agus, dar liomsa, níl an ghaoth ag séideadh chomh fuar ná chomh neamhthrócaireach céanna in aon réimse eile den tsochaí.
Creidim féin go bhfuil na húdaráis sásta go maith nach mbeidh an scéal seo i mbéal an phobail. Tá’s acu gur beag suim atá ag na meáin Bhéarla i scannal i saol na Gaeilge, seachas ceann faoin chostas ar cháipéis nár léadh i mBéarla a aistriú go Gaeilge. Go minic ní bhíonn ach maoiniú suarach i gceist. Tá tábhacht shiombalach leis, áfach. Léiríonn sé meon maistíneachta an mhaoinitheora. An dream is lú is túisce a mhothóidh an bhuatais throm ar a mhuineál. Luaim sa chomhthéacs seo an maoiniú €16,000 in aghaidh na bliana atá á bhaint de An tUltach. Is beag an méid é seo le tacú le hiris mhíosúil a sheas an fód ar feadh 90 bliain le linn cogaí agus géarchéimeanna eacnamaíochta a choimeád beo do na páistí atá ag déanamh Rith 2014. Seasann an cinneadh seo amach mar an ciorrú is suaraí agus is tréasúla ar fad.
Níl sé maith a dhóthain, dar liom, d’Fhoras na Gaeilge a fhógairt go mbeidh scéim eile ann ‘ar ball’ chun cuireadh a thabhairt do ghrúpaí nua irisí eile a bhunú. Má tá dáta cinnte ann do dheireadh an mhaoinithe do An tUltach agus eile, agus tá — 30 Meitheamh 2014 — ba cheart go mbeadh scéim nua réidh le teacht ina áit agus irisí nua réidh le teacht ar an margadh ar 1 Iúil 2014. Agus níl. Mura bhfuil seo in áit, léiríonn sé mí-éifeacht an mhaoinitheora. Ní mór a mheabhrú gurb é ár gcuid airgid atá á dháileadh ag Foras na Gaeilge, seachas a gcuid maoine féin. An bhliain seo caite chinn an Foras deireadh a chur le maoiniú Gaelscéal agus níl nuachtán Gaeilge maoinithe againn ó dheireadh mhí Feabhra 2013. Ní raibh ‘ plean B’ an Fhorais réidh agus plean ‘A’ á chur ó mhaith ag an institiúid teanga trasteorann. Seo patrún fadbhunaithe ag Foras na Gaeilge — tharla sé leis an tSamhail Nua Mhaoinithe, Scéim na nOifigeach Forbartha Pobal, na hirisí, na nuachtáin agus eile. Deineann siad cinneadh fáil réidh le rud amháin ach ní bhíonn a mhalairt réidh le dul ar an margadh. Líontar bearnaí fada le socruithe sealadacha nó le folúis fholmha. Ní bheadh sé maith a dhóthain in aon réimse eile den saol poiblí agus níor cheart go mbeadh sé maith a ói réimse na Gaeilge/na Gaeltachta.
Mar sin, is dócha go bhfuil cúis cheiliúrtha ag Gaeil na hÉireann le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2014. Is sinne is tréine ag feidhmiú na déine.
www.independent.ie
Cuireann Foras stop le maoiniú d’irisí Gaeilge
Márta 12, 2014
Tá imní mhór á léiriú ag earnáil na n-irisí Gaeilge faoi chinneadh Fhoras na Gaeilge deireadh a chur lena maoiniú reatha ó thús mhí Iúil ar aghaidh.
Cuirfear críoch leis an chóras reatha maoinithe do na heagraíochtaí bunmhaoinithe an 30 Meitheamh agus tá sé tugtha le fios anois ag an eagras trasteorann go mbeidh impleachtaí ag an chinneadh sin don airgead a chuirtear ar fáil d’fhormhór na n-irisí clóite agus idirlín. Tiocfaidh deireadh leis an mhaoiniú a fhaigheann iris Chonradh na Gaeilge, Feasta; iris Chomhaltas Uladh, An tUltach; agus suíomh Chomhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Gaelport.
Foilseachán
Ní leanfar ach an oiread leis an mhaoiniú a bhí á chur ar fáil don iris chultúir Nós ná don iris idirlín Beo.ie. Ciallaíonn sé sin gurb í an iris litríochta agus chúrsaí reatha, Comhar, an t-aon fhoilseachán míosúil atá slán ón chiorrú seo ar na meáin. Deir Seán Ó Murchadha, bainisteoir An tUltach, gur chuir fógairt an Fhorais an-iontas ar choiste na hirise, atá 90 bliain ar an fhód i mbliana. “Tá fearg shoiléir ar phobal na Gaeilge faoi láthair faoin ghearradh siar agus faoin easpa seirbhísí atá ar fáil dúinn ach dealraíonn sé gur cuma le Foras na Gaeilge faoin mhíshástacht mhór seo atá le sonrú fad fad na tíre,” arsa Seán. “Is bocht an scéal é má tharlaíonn sé nach mbeidh ann ach iris amháin Ghaeilge atá á maoiniú ag an stát agus is é pobal na teanga féin a bheas thíos leis an ghanntanas éagsúlachta seo.”
Dar le hEagarthóir Nós ( ar chlé), Tomaí Ó Conghaile, go ndéanfaidh an iris chultúir agus stíl bheatha a seacht ndícheall leanúint ar aghaidh in ainneoin na gciorruithe. “Is drochscéal é seo do na meáin Ghaeilge,” ar seisean. “Mar sin féin bhí meon deonach, pobalbhunaithe ag Nós ón tús agus beidh muid ag fiosrú bealaí úra chun airgead a ghiniúint don togra.”
Tá sé ráite ag Foras na Gaeilge go bpléifear féidearthachtaí leis na foilsitheoirí éagsúla ach ní fios fós cén struchtúr maoinithe a bheidh ar fáil.
www.independent.ie
