‘Protect the PTR’ Campaign Launched today
March 15, 2011
‘Protect the PTR’ is launched by GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. opposing the Department of Education and Skills’ announcement that there will be a significant increase in the pupil-teacher ratio in gaelscoileanna.
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. launched a campaign, ‘Protect the PTR’, at a press briefing today in Áras na Comhdhála, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge in Dublin followed by a celebration of the success of Irish-medium education during ‘Seachtain na Gaeilge’ through a céilí/ music outside Dáil Éireann.
‘Protect the PTR’ is a campaign opposing the announcement by the Department of Education and Skills that will end the current favourable pupil-teacher ratio in gaelscoileanna. It has been announced that gaelscoileanna will have the same PTR as the English-medium schools from September 2011, a change that will have very serious implications, in particular for the Irish-medium schools with between three and eight teachers.
Mícheál Ó Broin, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.’s president, defended the current system: “The present system acknowledges the challenges facing small Irish-medium schools, allowing them a more favourable pupil-teacher ratio than their English-medium counterparts. This system recognises the considerable extra workload involved in running an Irish-medium school, such as implementing the entire curriculum through the medium of Irish and the lack of resources and supports. The ratio was granted in recognition of the need to protect and strengthen the immersion sector and to protect the schools’ language ethos. There was a compelling educational and language basis for having a more favourable ratio. The Department’s decision to change the ratio is based on a financial rationale rather than on an educational rationale.”
Up to 31 schools will lose one teacher, four schools will lose two teachers and principals will have to return to the classroom in the case of 6 schools. As a consequence the number of pupils in classes will increase and there will be plenty of mixed classes with a high number of children in them. Schools will be compelled to increase their pupil intake by 17-23 pupils in September 2011 if they’re to keep the aforementioned teachers. As most of these schools are no longer classified as developing schools, this is not a reasonable or a realistic expectation. Any previous change in the schedule involved increasing intake by a pupil or two!
Hilda de Róiste, Chairperson of the Board of Management of Gaelscoil Phádraig in Ballybrack, Co. Dublin said: “According to the new schedule for the appointment of teachers from September 2011, we will lose one post and we were hoping that we would entitled to employ an extra teacher in September based on the old figures. Gaelscoil Phádraig has grown and developed despite a lot of difficulties, for example, lack of recognition for two years, a lack of funds and a lack of permanent accommodation. We are based in a disadvantaged area and we don’t have DEIS status, even though the other schools in the area do. We are still based on a small temporary site in prefabricated rooms, and now we’re dealt another terrible blow! It isn’t in any way fair. How can anyone say that it is acceptable to ask schools to take in an extra 20 children in September 2011 in one fell swoop to keep their teachers? How can the Department defend that? This decision is an attack on Irish-medium education that contradicts the Government’s statements that illustrate the importance and efficiencies of the all-Irish schools. The Government should withdraw this decision immediately.”
This is a radical and disastrous change which will leave schools sustaining staff loses and larger class sizes. It will also result in a significantly less effective immersion education experience for the pupil. This decision also has severe implications for teacher employment, particularly for those teachers who don’t have panel rights and taking into consideration that there is no panel which represents the needs of teachers in gaelscoileanna.
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge Teo. criticised the decision: “Our schools believe that they are being attacked by the Department of Education and their needs ignored. If the Department persists with this policy, teachers will lose their jobs. The Department have yet to ratify a panel for the schools represented by An Foras Pátrúnachta, even though this panel was agreed to in principle back in 2004. This, coupled with the lack of suitable accommodation in the majority of schools raises serious questions about the Department’s attitude to Irish-medium education. An Foras Pátrúnachta are committed to protecting the Irish-medium sector, therefore, we strongly support this campaign.”
Mícheál Ó Broin has demanded that the Government keep its word with regard to Irish-medium education, by treating gaelscoileanna fairly: “Despite the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language, which acknowledges the pivotal role of Irish-medium education for the language’s future, the sector is losing rather than gaining Departmental support. This decision raises questions about the Department’s attitude to Irish-medium education. Killer blow follows killer blow! Not only are gaelscoileanna unjustly suffering the effects of unsuitable accommodation and reduced supports; the bottom is falling out of the sector, stretched to breaking point by increased pressure on diminishing resources. It is scandalous and unacceptable that Irish-medium schools should suffer again, I ask the new Education Minister to reconsider this unfair decision and to give Irish-medium education the respect and fair treatment it deserves.”
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is the co-ordinated organisation for Irish-medium schools. It assists parents and local groups in the founding of new schools and also supports established schools.
Ends.
Further Information: Mícheál Ó Broin 087-9467700 / Nóra Ní Loingsigh 087-6737560
Gaelscoil Bharra and Gaelscoil Sáirséal on TV3
March 11, 2011
Watch the clip: MidWeek
Gaelspraoi
March 11, 2011
Information Night – Raising your child with Irish
March 11, 2011
A free information night for parents who are interested in raising their children through the medium of Irish or enrolling them in Irish Language Education
Gael-Taca, i gcomhair le Comhluadar agus na Naíonraí Gaelacha
Bí linn ar an Luan 14ú Márta @ 7 a chlog i.n.
Monday 14th March
Saor in aisce/ free event
Ionad: Gael-Taca, 22 Port Uí Shúilleabháin, Cathair Chorcaí
Location: Gael-Taca, 22 Sullivan’s Quay. Cork City
Scoil Raifteirí now enrolling for September 2011
March 11, 2011
Scoil Raifteirí is an All-Irish primary school situated on the Fairgreen in Castlebar.
The school provides an excellent education suitable for children between the ages of four and 12 in a natural, friendly, and stimulating atmosphere. The young teaching staff are fully qualified and committed to meet the educational, cultural, and individual needs of the children entrusted in their care. The children are treated with fairness, firmness, dignity, and understanding. They learn to know, value, and enjoy Irish language and heritage through dance, music, song, drama, story-telling, art, and poetry. High standards of fluency and competence, both in English and Irish, are attained. A good solid foundation in all subjects is offered in the progressive and wide-ranging curriculum.
It is not essential for parents themselves to speak Irish fluently when their children attend an Irish school but they will learn Irish as their children progress. Homework tasks are prepared and concepts learned in class are revisited at home enabling children to complete homework independently. Children learn how to speak Irish effortlessly in a happy learning environment. Their fluency in the language will give them the confidence to excel in their oral Irish examination in the Leaving certificate. Scoil Raifteirí is now taking applications for junior infants for September 2011 and the following years 2012/2013/2014. There will be an open/registration day on Monday March 14 from 10am to 1pm. Contact 094 902 4700, email runaisraif@eircom.net, or log onto www.scoilraifteiri.com
Mayo Advertiser
PROTECT the PTR in our Gaelscoileanna!
March 10, 2011
The ‘Cosain an Cóimheas!’ campaign to protect the Pupil-Teacher ratio in Irish-medium schools will be launched next Tuesday, March 15th in Dublin. GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. are organising music and dancing outside Dáil Éireann, Kildare St. at 11.30a.m. to draw attention to the damage the Deaprtment of Education has done to Irish-medium schools by raising the Pupil-Teacher ratio. Immediately before this at 11.00a.m. the campaign will be launched at a press event in Áras na Comhdhála, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, 46 Kildare St. Dublin.
Come along on the day and support our cause!
What is the issue?
The Department of Education and Skills is raising the Pupil-Teacher Ratio (P.T.R.) in gaelscoileanna from this coming September. In some cases schools will require 20 extra pupils to maintain their current staffing levels. Previous increases in the P.T.R. for all schools required an extra 1 or 2 pupils!
Why did gaelscoileanna have a more favourable pupil-teacher ratio?
There was a sound educational and linguistic basis for a more favourable pupil-teacher ratio which recognised the greater challenges facing small and developing gaelscoileanna, challenges which included implementation of a full curriculum through Irish and the inequalities pertaining to resources and other supports for these schools.
This favourable pupil-teacher ratio applied to every gaelscoil?
No, only to those with 3 to 9 teachers, to support them in the critical phase of their development.
There was an educational basis for this change therefore?
No. The Department’s decision was based on a monetary rather than an educational basis.
What will be the result of this decision?
Many schools will lose one classroom teacher; in some cases two posts will be lost and administrative principals will have to return to the classroom. Class sizes will increase and many classes will have to
be split and mixed as a result.
The all-party ‘20 Year Plan for Irish’ recognised the central role of gaelscoileanna, did it not?
It did.
So, gaelscoileanna have proper support and receive fair play?
No, unfortunately. 75% of the schools affected by this decision are in temporary and/or unsuitable accommodation, many of them for a long period of time. Some schools in designated disadvantaged areas do not have the supports associated with having disadvantaged status despite neighbouring schools having such status. This decision is yet another attack on Irish-medium schools.
What is required therefore?
The immediate reversal of this oppressive decision and fair play for Irish-medium education.
Information leaflet and poster available to download here:
Clár oibre an Rialtais
March 10, 2011
Bua don teanga agus í de dhíth san Ardteist -Imní faoi chiorruithe in earnáil na Gaeilge áfach
March 10, 2011
ScoilNet newsletter now available in Irish!
March 10, 2011
BA (Onóracha) sa Ghaeilge don Saol Proifisiúnta
March 10, 2011
Recent government-led initiatives have led to a significant increase in opportunities for Irish language graduates in the areas of employment and/or further education. These developments include the enactment of the Official Languages Act, 2003, the inclusion of Irish as an official language of the EU in 2007, and the recently published policy document Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 (20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language). BA (Onóracha) sa Ghaeilge don Saol Proifisiúnta is a new and highly-innovative 4-year honours degree programme which will prepare graduates to function professionally through the medium of Irish in a wide variety of chosen career paths.
What will I study on this programme ?
As well as being highly skilled in the Irish language itself, graduates will also acquire a comprehensive range of experience and knowledge through the medium of Irish in a broad spectrum of subject areas, including media, business, community-work, the creative arts and language facilitation.
Subject areas studied on the degree include:
Language Skills, Translation Studies, Literature, Media Studies, IT skills, Business and Administration, Public Relations, Marketing, Community Work, Traditional Singing, Music, Folklore, Radio and Television Skills, Management, Accountancy, Creative Writing, Scriptwriting, Irish-Language Film, Language Facilitation in the Community, Research Skills, Financial Management, Event Management and the Creative Arts.
What are my career opportunities?
The academic diversity offered on this programme will enable students to pursue employment and/or further study in areas such as administration, translation, sociolinguistics, proof-reading, document preparation, teaching, mass-media, business, cultural tourism, heritage and folklore, creative arts, community-based employment, language facilitation, language-planning, and other related areas.
What other options do I have after completion?
Graduates will be in a strong position to succeed in the many newly emerging Irish-language contexts within the broader community which have been generated by recent government initiatives, such as Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge and Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003, and will also be excellently placed to pursue postgraduate study in the Irish language. The MA sa Ghaeilge Fheidhmeach which is already being offered by DIT would be a natural choice for further study and/or research in this regard.
Are there study abroad opportunities?
Students will complete the second semester of Year Three on work-placement in the Gaeltacht and / or with an Irish-language organisation.
Module Listing
YEAR 1
CUMARSÁID GHNÍOMHACH (1.A) (10 ECTS)
Communicative / language / IT skills: Introduction.
CRUINNEAS TEANGA (1.B) (10 ECTS)
Grammatical Accuracy; Textual Analysis; Syntax; Translation.
LITRÍOCHT AGUS POBAIL NA GAEILGE (1.C) (10 ECTS)
(i) Short Story; (ii) Oral Literary Tradition.
GAIRMEACHA CUMARSÁIDE (1.D) (10 ECTS)
Communications and Mass Media: (i) Context, Growth and Development of Irish
Language Mass Media; (ii) Irish Language Print Media: Analysis & Practical Skills.
GNÓ AGUS RIARACHÁN (1.E) (10 ECTS)
(i) Applied Communications; (ii) Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations.
OBAIR PHOBALBHUNAITHE & NA hEALAÍONA CRUTHAITHEACHA (1.F)
Song, Music and Folklore Studies: Analysis and Practice. (10 ECTS)
———-
YEAR 2
CUMARSÁID GHNÍOMHACH (2.A) (10 ECTS)
Communicative / language / IT skills: The professional environment.
CRUINNEAS TEANGA (2.B) (10 ECTS)
Grammatical Accuracy; Textual Analysis; Syntax; Translation.
LITRÍOCHT AGUS POBAIL NA GAEILGE (2.C) (10 ECTS)
(i) Poetry; (ii) Sociolinguistics.
GAIRMEACHA CUMARSÁIDE (2.D) (10 ECTS)
Communications and Mass Media:
(i) Radio: Analysis & Practical Skills; Making and broadcasting a radio programme;
(ii) Television: Analysis & Practical Skills.
GNÓ AGUS RIARACHÁN (2.E) (10 ECTS)
(i) Business Management; (ii) Introduction to Financial Accounting.
OBAIR PHOBALBHUNAITHE & NA hEALAÍONA CRUTHAITHEACHA (2.F)
Creative Writing and Functional Writing: Analysis & Practical Skills (10 ECTS)
Creative Composing, Scriptwriting for Radio and Television; Reviews.
———-
YEAR 3
CUMARSÁID GHNÍOMHACH (3.A) (Semester 1 only) (5 ECTS)
Communicative / language / IT skills: Practical application.
CRUINNEAS TEANGA (3.B) (Semester 1 only) (5 ECTS)
Grammatical Accuracy; Textual Analysis; Syntax; Translation.
LITRÍOCHT AGUS POBAIL NA GAEILGE (3.C) (Semester 1 only) (5 ECTS)
Irish-language drama.
GAIRMEACHA CUMARSÁIDE (3.D) (Semester 1 only) (5ECTS)
Irish-language film.
GNÓ AGUS RIARACHÁN (3.E) (Semester 1 only) (5 ECTS)
Introduction to Management Accounting.
OBAIR PHOBALBHUNAITHE & NA hEALAÍONA CRUTHAITHEACHA (3.F)
Language Facilitation in the Community (Semester 1 only) (5 ECTS)
TAITHÍ OIBRE SAN EARNÁIL GHAEILGE (3.G) (Semester 2 only) (30 ECTS)
Immersion work placement in Irish-language sector and/or Gaeltacht.
———-
YEAR 4
TAIGHDE (4.A) (10 ECTS)
Research skills.
DIANCHÚRSA CRUINNIS (4.B) (10 ECTS)
Grammatical Accuracy; Textual Analysis; Syntax; Translation.
LITRÍOCHT AGUS POBAIL NA GAEILGE (4.C) (10 ECTS)
Blasket Autobiographies; Life and Works of Máirtín Ó Cadhain.
GAIRMEACHA CUMARSÁIDE (4.D) (10 ECTS)
Irish-language Communications and Mass Media studies.
GNÓ AGUS RIARACHÁN (4.E) (10 ECTS)
(i) Enterprise through Irish; (ii) Financial Management.
OBAIR PHOBALBHUNAITHE & NA hEALAÍONA CRUTHAITHEACHA (4.F)
Language facilitation; Community-based and Creative Arts events. (10 ECTS)
What our students say!
“A very interesting programme. Lots of variety.”
Question: “Would I be able for it? It’s all being taught through Irish?”
An freagra: “Má tá spéis agat sa Ghaeilge agus in úsáid a bhaint aisti i do shaol proifisiúnta seo an chéim duitse!” An interest in and a willingness to improve your standard of Irish is what really matters!
Entry requirements
The entry requirements for the BA (Onór.) sa Ghaeilge don Saol Proifisiúnta programme shall be as follows:
a) Irish Leaving Certificate in at least six subjects, with at least two at HC3 in Higher level. Results must include:
Six passes overall;
Irish at Leaving Certificate Higher Level, Minimum C3;
At least Grade D3 in Ordinary Level Maths.
Or
b) an equivalent qualification.
Further Information / Contact Details:
http://www.dit.ie/schooloflanguages/
School of Languages,
Dublin Institute of Technology,
Kevin Street,
Dublin 2
languages@dit.ie
01 402 4673 / 01 402 2843
Oifig na Gaeilge,
Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath,
Sráid Aungier,
Baile Átha Cliath 2.
gaeilge@dit.ie
01 402 7043
