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GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. welcomes increased capital expenditure on schools

December 6, 2007

Gaelscoileanna Teoranta has welcomed the government’s planned €95 million increase in capital expenditure on schools announced in the budget.

"53 per cent of Gaelscoileanna are operating with some measure of temporary accommodation," said Mícheál O’Broin, Chairman of Gaelscoileanna Teoranta, speaking in Dublin today.  "The Minister has fought hard for education to be so well treated in the budget and we look forward to the improvement this will make for hundreds if not thousands of children and teachers."

END

 

Further information:

Mícheál O’Broin
Gaelscoileanna Teoranta
087 9467700
Rob Hartnett,
Director – Hartnett McClure PR
086 3851955
rob@hmpr.ie

GAELSCOILEANNA WELCOME OIREACHTAS SUPPORT: Committee recognises clear need for more research before circular 0044/2007 is implemented

December 6, 2007

The campaign to save early total immersion stepped up a gear in Dáil Éireann today when a delegation from Gaelscoileanna Teoranta addressed the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science.

"We were pleased with the opportunity to present our case.  We stressed the need to undertake more research before we allow the policy of early total immersion which has worked so well for over 50 years to be swept aside by one departmental circular," said Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin, Chief Executive of Gaelscoileanna Teo. 

"All the research undertaken in Canada, Britain and around the world supports the benefits of early immersion, and we produced research today undertaken in Ireland which backs up the view that there are significant benefits for English as the majority language as well as Irish from at least one year of total immersion."

"The committee showed great understanding and support for our argument, backed up by the NCCA, INTO and many others that we must not implement the circular until we know more about why immersion education has worked so well in an Irish context."

"This campaign is about education and parental choice. Gaelscoileanna are open to all children and are of equal benefit to those of every racial, linguistic and national background, as well as those of all learning abilities, added Mícheál O’Broin, President of Gaelscoileanna."

"We are hopeful that the support we have received today from across the political divide, will encourage the Department to review the policy and withdraw the circular at least until such time as research is undertaken"

"Without change we run the risk of killing a wonderful education choice without ever knowing why it worked so well."

The circular will start to come into effect from January 2008 and will affect the current or future possibility of teaching through early immersion principles in almost 200 schools.

End

Further Information:

Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin                                            Rob Hartnett
Chief Executive – Gaelscoileanna Teoranta              Director – Hartnett McClure Public
086 8050335                                                            Relations
                                                                                    086 3851955

GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. presentation to Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science

December 4, 2007

Representatives from Gaelscoileanna Teoranta and others who are supporting the campaign for Early Total Immersion will be presenting the case for the withdrawal of circular 0044/2007 to the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Education and Science on Thursday, morning, December 6th

 

Date:

Thursday, December 6th, 2007

 

Time:

Presentation 09.30 am

Media statement after 11.00 am

Interviews from 1130 am to 1300 pm

 

Venue for interviews:

Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, 46 Kildare Street, Dublin 2

 

In attendance:

President of Gaelscoileanna Teoranta, Mícheál Ó Broin

Chief Executive of Gaelscoileanna Teoranta, Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin

 

Background:

The policy of early total immersion education as practised in Gaelscoileanna throughout Ireland is under threat from circular 0044/2007, issued by the Department of Education and Science.  The circular proposes to introduce two and a half hours of English language teaching by no later that the second term of junior infants. This is in contrast to the four models of early total immersion model practiced in Gaelscoileanna throughout Ireland. The directive runs contrary to best international practice in the area of immersion education, and this campaign aims to see it’s withdrawal until such time as proper research can be undertaken in an Irish context.

To make arrangements for an interview either in person or over the phone, please call:

 

Rob Hartnett
Hartnett McClure PR
01 6401821 or 086 3851955
rob@hmpr.ie

Early Immersion Campaign Takes Centre Stage At Annual Conference

November 15, 2007

Annual Conference of Gaelscoileanna to hear expert evidence this weekend in Limerick

The world’s leading expert on immersion education, Professor Richard Johnstone from the University of Sterling in Scotland, will deliver the keynote address to the annual education conference and AGM of Gaelscoileanna Teoranta in Limerick this Friday, November 16th.  Caitríona Ruane, MLA, Minister for Education in Northern Ireland will also touch on the heated subject when she delivers a speech on Friday evening on the conference theme of ‘strengthening Irish-medium schooling’.

Earlier this week Gaelscoileanna Teoranta launched a campaign fighting against the decision of the Department of Education and Science in Dublin to end the practice of early immersion education in Irish-medium schools beyond the start of the second term of junior infants.  The ban will start to take effect in some schools in January 2008 unless circular 2007/0044 is withdrawn.  The freedom to practice early immersion education will continue in Gaelscoileanna north of the border.

The conference, the theme of which is ‘Strengthening Irish Medium Schooling’, will be officially opened by Gearóid Ó Conluain, Deputy Chief Inspector at the Department of Education and Science.  Other subjects on the agenda for the two day conference include:

  • the integration of children from non Irish-speaking backgrounds into Irish-medium post-primary schools
  • interculturalism in Irish-medium schools at both primary and post-primary levels
  • language and literacy in Irish-medium primary schools
  • teaching materials and resources for teachers in the Irish-medium schooling sector
  • whole school evaluation and planning

“It is very timely that the conference will take place during the same week as the launch of the organisation’s campaign ‘Tumoideachas – Ár Rogha’ (Immersion Education – Our Choice), said Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, Chief Executive of Gaelscoileanna Teoranta.

“Maintaining  the immersion education system as a system of choice is a key part of providing a continued high standard of education within the ever stronger environment of Irish-medium schooling. Strenuous efforts are being made to raise awareness – among the general public and members of the Oireachtas – of the importance of the early-immersion system.”

“Professor Johnstone and Minister Ruane will provide a fascinating insight into just why early immersion is so important and bolster delegates commitment to fight against it’s being taken away from us. As ever, we look forward to meeting again with teachers, principals, parents, Irish-language and educational organisations over the two-day period.”

GAELSCOILEANNA TEORANTA is the co-ordinating body for schools that teach through Irish.  It helps parents and local groups set up new schools and supports the established Irish-medium schools.

End

Media wishing to attend the Conference or who would like further information on speakers should contact:

Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin                   or                     Rob Hartnett
Chief Executive                                                         Director
Gaelscoileanna Teoranta                                          Hartnett McClure PR
086 8050335                                                           086 3851955
blathnaid@gaelscoileanna.ie rob@hmpr.ie

or

Total Early Immersion – Our Choice

November 12, 2007

GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. have set up a special website dedicated to the campaign to save total early Immersion in Ireland, An Tumoideachas – Ár Rogha (Immersion Education – Our Choice). It will feature background information about the present situation concerning total early immersion in Ireland and the campaign in particular:

WWW.ROGHA.ORG

We ask that people show their support for our campaign by printing off the letters below, signing them and sending the relevant letter either to Minister for Education and Science or to your local politician.

Letter of Petition to the Minister for Education and Science

Letter of Petition to Politicians

New Schools Coming Soon

November 11, 2007

New Schools Coming soon

Primary Level

Area:        Kinsale, Co Cork
Contact:    Ciarán Coughlan
Phone:      (087) 2333698

Area:        Gort Inse Guaire, Co. Galway
Contact:    Fiona Ní Chualáin
Phone:      (087) 2887782
Email:       fnichualain@eircom.net
Contact:   Séamus Ó Fáthaigh
Phone:      (087) 4149160
Contact:    Máirín Higgins Fáthaigh
Phone:      (045) 851868 

Area:        Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim
Contact:    Rossa Ó Snódaigh
Phone:      (086) 8260860

Area:        New Ross, Co Wexford
Contact:    Matt Lundy
Phone:      (086) 3204443
Email:       dathai_forde@yahoo.com 
Contact:    Liz Burdon
Phone:      (086) 0843653 

Area:        Laytown, Co. Meath 
Contact:     Tom Kelly
Phone:       (086) 3817700

Secondary Level

Area:         South Dublin
Contact:     Lughaidh Ó Braonáin
Phone:       (087) 6650005
Chair:       Feargal Ó Riain  
Phone:       (087) 2559345
PRO:         Ciara Ruschitzko
Phone:       (087) 9877524

Area:         Arklow, Co Wicklow
Contact:     Eibhlín Ní Conchúir
Phone:       (087) 2213873
Contact:     Robert Marshall
Phone:       (0404) 69351

Area:        Buncrana, Co. Donegal
Contact:    Pauline Grant
Phone:      (086) 0812429

Area:        Wexford, Co Wexford
Contact:    Caitlín Lynham
Phone:      (087) 2677638
Contact:    Caroline Hartnett
Phone:      (087) 2428262

Area:        Waterford City, Co. Waterford
Contact:    Stephen Beatty
Phone:       (087) 9091673

Contact:    Dónal Ó Conaill, An Foras Pátrúnachta
Phone:      (087) 2359198

Contact:    GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.
Phone:       (01) 4773155

Opening of New Irish-medium Schools

August 29, 2007

GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. welcomes the opening of four Irish-medium Primary schools and four Irish-medium Post-Primary schools in September 2007 who will be opening their doors for the first time this year.

 

The Irish-medium Primary schools are as follows:

  1. Gaelscoil Chluainín, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim (Catholic ethos school),
  2. Gaelscoil na bhFilí, Gort, Co. Galway,
  3. Gaelscoil an Bhradán Feasa, Laytown, Co. Meath (under the patronage of Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge) and
  4. Gaelscoil Chionn tSáile, Kinsale, Co. Cork (Catholic ethos school under the patronage of the bishop of Cork & Ross).

 

The Irish-medium Post-Primary schools are:

  1. Gaelcholáiste Phort Láirge, Waterford City,
  2. Meánscoil Charman, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
  3. Gaelcholáiste Bhun Cranncha, Buncrannagh, Co. Donegal and
  4. Gaelcholáiste an Inbhear Mór, Arklow, Co. Wicklow.

 

We also welcome the new Irish-medium schools in Northern Ireland that are opening with the help and support of our Educational Partners in the North, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta. The schools in question are Gaelscoil Éanna, Glengormley, Co. Antrim and Coláiste Spéirín, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone.

 

Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, C.E.O. of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO., is delighted to welcome this progressive growth which celebrates all that is achieved by the founding committees and the Irish-medium Education sector. She says, "I commend all of the founding committees for their diligence and goodwill from start to finish for the last few years whilst working actively on a voluntary basis to ensure provision of Irish-medium education for their children." She confirmed that Irish-medium education is continuously and progressively growing at both levels for the last few years and that such a profound a growth has not been experienced since 1998 when 11 schools were opened.

 

She stated, however, that these schools will be operating from temporary accommodation for the next few years, as are nearly 50% of the total number of Primary Irish-medium schools in the country, including new and long established schools. However, she confirms that "GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. will continue it’s campaign with the Department of Education & Science to improve the situation of Irish-speaking schools, through fair accommodation and sufficient resources in line with the high standards achieved by the Irish-medium education system".

 

We wish every success to the new schools, their principals and teachers as well as the pupils that are embarking on a new important era in their lives and their parents too on this proud occasion. We also wish every continued success to all Irish-medium schools that are re-opening their doors in preparation for a new school year as they continue their hard work in providing an excellent standard of education through the medium of Irish.

 

 

 

GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is the national co-ordinating body for schools teaching through the medium of Irish. It helps parents and local groups to set up new schools and supports the established all-Irish schools. There are 168 primary schools and 43 secondary schools outside the Gaeltacht (32 County) currently providing education through the medium of Irish.

 

 

Further Information:

Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin: 01-4773155

Mícheál Ó Broin: 087-9467700

 

ENDS

 

Ill-Advised Decision of Minister For Education and Science Regarding The Immersion Education System In Gaelscoileanna

July 31, 2007

The Minister for Education and Science’s announcement on 26 July 2007 with regard to the practice of immersion education in the State’s Irish-medium primary schools has been received with dismay and disappointment by GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. and by Irish-medium schools throughout the country in view of the disregard of expert and comprehensive advice. The decision taken by the Minister is such that Irish-medium schools will be compelled to formally teach English by the beginning of the second term of junior infants at the latest. This decision has been made in the absence of an agreed state policy on immersion education.

This decision dismisses the on-going success, values and high standards achieved throughout the immersion education system in Ireland. A decision of such profound consequence should be one based on comprehensive, native, scientific and academic research results as opposed to one based on speculation and partial testing in one particular school, or even in a small number of schools.

The Minister’s decision highlights ambiguity and a lack of understanding of the foundation, approach and requirements of the immersion education system. It is not a question of whether or not pupils of Irish-medium schools enjoy the full advantages of the English curriculum, which is implicit in the system, but rather what is the most appropriate stage to formally introduce English literacy, while giving full effect to the immersion education system. The comparison drawn between the compulsory teaching of Irish in English-medium schools and the teaching of English in gaelscoileanna is futile and unreasonable.

It is important to remember that the Irish-medium schooling system is a system of parental choice, and one that is founded on agreed policies and collaboration with parents. It is vital that the level of awareness of the system is increased to ensure widespread understanding of the fact that all of the outcomes of the English curriculum are achieved fully during the primary school cycle, as well as additional and complementary outcomes of the immersion education system. The main principle of immersion education centers on a necessary period of full immersion for the development and acquisition of the Irish language.

Interested parties, including GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. as well as advisors of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), were invited to present and to submit advice to the Minister on this issue. Emphasis was placed on the basic necessity of immediate implementation of the recommendations of the NCCA, as well as the advice of linguists and educational experts. The urgency of a comprehensive and accurate audit of the practice of the sector was reiterated to the Minister as was the urgent need for the appropriate testing of competencies in English of Irish-medium primary education. In the words of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.’s Chief Executive, Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, "It appears that the demands for the strengthening of the sector are being overlooked, for example through appropriate testing tools and resources, and instead the basic foundation of the system is being jeopardized through placing a restraint on the period of early immersion in the Irish language. One term in junior infants does not suffice for pupils to fully benefit from immersion education".

GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.’s President, Mícheál Ó Broin stated that, "the sector is being condemned for adopting a so-called ‘à la carte’ approach to the practice of immersion education, a criticism which would have no basis should the recommendations of the NCCA be adopted and thus allowing for the research into four models as a starting point.

The Irish language sector on the whole has expressed its anger and frustration at this unwelcome decision as it contradicts the State’s own policy on language preservation, in that it places a barrier on the most effective way of promoting the language in this country, that is through the medium and practice of total immersion education. The research and best-practice acknowledges the total immersion system as the most effective way of second language acquisition.

 

The truth of the matter is that no evidence exists to support the contention that the immersion system is not a successful one or that children of gaelscoileanna are at a disadvantage in relation to English language proficiency. In fact, the opposite has been documented, but unfortunately this decision would remove the necessity for a comprehensive and scientific programme of research which would further highlight the positive outcomes and high standards achieved by the system.

We demand of the Minister, on behalf of the sector, that any decision directly affecting the future of the Irish-immersion system be based on the results of native and comprehensive research and that the recommendations of the NCCA be implemented immediately to ensure the continued valuable work in the development of best-practice guidelines on immersion education.

GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is the national co-ordinating body for schools teaching through the medium of Irish. It helps parents and local groups to set up new schools and supports the established all-Irish schools. There are 163 primary schools and 38 secondary schools currently providing education through the medium of Irish. Four new Irish medium primary schools will open in September 2007 as well as four post-primary schools.

 

Further information:

Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin 01 4773155

Mícheál Ó Broin 087-9467700

eolas@gaelscoileanna.ie

END.

Programme of new Government

June 21, 2007

GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. wish to congratulate the new government and the newly appointed Ministers. We especially wish to congratulate the Minister of Education and Science, Mary Hanafin, TD, and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamonn Ó Cuív, TD on their re-appointments. Referring to the programme for government, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.’s Chief Executive, Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin, said "The setting up of a senior group of executives between these two departments as well as the reinstituting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Irish Language are two recommendations that will benefit the Irish-medium education sector and the Irish language in general and we strongly welcome this cross-departmental cooperation and we believe the opportunities of collaboration that emerge, would be of benefit to the sector".

GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. welcome the fact that "harnessing the huge potential of the Gaelscoil movement and improving the quality of Irish in English-medium schools" is a stated priority of the Government. The organisation is delighted that new arrangements will be put in place to enable gaelscoileanna to hire teachers with a strong ability to teach all subjects through Irish. According to GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.’s President, Mícheál Ó Broin, "we strongly welcome the commitments given and the steps outlined in relation to delivering a high standard of accommodation for new schools and for schools that already exist. There will be a need to immediately implement these same commitments for the benefit of the Irish-medium education sector which has been in an accommodation crisis for a number of years. It is imperative that these commitments are implemented for those schools that aren’t newly established but that are still without satisfactory accommodation. We also welcome the promises made in relation to increased funding for schools and the reduction of class sizes."

 

GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. however notes that there is a lack of reference to some of the immediate and crucial issues of the sector, including an agreed state policy on immersion education and learning assessment tools suitably adjusted for the specific needs of the Irish-medium education.

GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. will continue to lobby on behalf of the Irish-medium schools and we look forward to a positive working relationship and cooperation with the government to develop our organisation’s aims.

GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is the national co-ordinating body for schools teaching through the medium of Irish. It helps parents and local groups to set up new schools and supports the established all-Irish schools. There are 163 primary schools and 38 secondary schools currently providing education through the medium of Irish. 5 new Irish medium primary schools will open in September 2007 as well as 4 post-primary schools.

 

Further information:

Oifig GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.:- 01 4773155

Mícheál Ó Broin 087-9467700

ENDS

Decision of Minister for Education and Science will have Serious Implications For The Future of Irish Medium Education and Language Preservation

May 14, 2007

The grave decision of the Minister for Education and Science with regard to the practice of immersion education in the State’s Irish-medium primary schools has been received with astonishment and dismay by GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. and by Irish-medium schools throughout the country. The decision taken by the Minister is such that Irish-medium schools will be compelled to formally teach English by the beginning of the second term of junior infants at the latest. In the words of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.’s Chief Executive, Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, "This action is not only ill-advised but has no educational, expert or linguistic basis to it".

At the request of the Minister, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) implemented a public consultation process on the development of language and literacy in Irish-medium primary schools. As a result of this process, which was based on expert research on international best-practice of immersion education, four models as well as recommendations were submitted to the Minister in January 2007, based on international best-practice with a view to developing a national policy on immersion education.

It appears that this decision dismisses the international expertise, the NCCA’s own recommendations, the recommendations and submissions of the key players in the Irish-language and education sectors, as well as the results of the widespread research and submissions that were collected from parents and teachers throughout the country. Additionally, this decision contradicts the State’s own policy on language preservation, in that it places a barrier on the most effective way of promoting the language in this country, that is through the medium and practice of total immersion education. The research and best-practice acknowledges the total immersion system as the most effective way of second language acquisition.

It is evident that the recommendations as laid out in the report of the NCCA, as well as in the submissions of the educational and Irish language partners and in the submissions and questionnaire results from the schools have not been acknowledged nor their theoretical or practical foundations. The Minister’s decision has no scientific, academic, or authoritative basis in the absence of guidelines on best-practice and on native research findings.

GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.’s President, Mícheál Ó Broin stated, "The intent and the effect of this decision is the ultimate end of the early immersion system. No evidence exists to support the contention that the immersion system is not a successful one. Furthermore, no evidence exists to suggest that the children of gaelscoileanna are at a disadvantage in relation to English language proficiency by the time they reach the higher classes. In fact, the oppostite has been documented. The Minister’s decision is a great source of disappointment and shock and indicates a step backwards rather than forwards for the Irish-medium education sector and for the preservation of the Irish language as a State policy."

GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. does not and will not accept any decision that will be to the detriment of the Irish-language immersion system as a whole and we will continue to lobby the Government and all political parties until appropriate recognition is granted to the results of the NCCA’s consultation process. We demand of the Minister not to issue the planned circular and to implement immediately the recommendations of the NCCA so that the valuable work of the NCCA will continue in the development of best-practice guidelines on immersion education.

GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is the national co-ordinating body for schools teaching through the medium of Irish. It helps parents and local groups to set up new schools and supports the established all-Irish schools. There are 163 primary schools and 38 secondary schools currently providing education through the medium of Irish. 5 new Irish medium primary schools will open in September 2007 as well as 4 post-primary schools.

Further information:

Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin 086 8050335

Mícheál Ó Broin 087-9467700

eolas@gaelscoileanna.ie

END.

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