Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne – Nuacht na Scoile
January 12, 2012
Prioritise maths in primary school, says NCC report
January 12, 2012
THE education system should be overhauled with a much greater emphasis on maths in primary schools while the points systems should be abolished, a top government agency said yesterday.
The National Competitiveness Council’s (NCC) annual report calls for sweeping changes across the education system, as well as further reform of the public sector, more reductions in the cost of doing business and increased productivity in the private sector.
Other changes recommended in education include:
– Higher third-level fees.
– Reform of the Leaving Certificate.
– Further training for teachers throughout their careers.
“Primary school children in Ireland spend the second-highest amount of time in the classroom of all children in the OECD but receive the least amount of tuition in mathematics,” the report states.
At second level, the NCC claims the points system “distorts performance by encouraging students away from vital subjects such as maths and sciences in favour of subjects (perceived) as easier”.
“A new method of entry into third level, which is meritocratic and promotes problem solving and innovation… is required to replace the current system,” the report states.
Teachers should also undergo regular training, with “professional and in-service development” that is “frequent, continuing and progressive during a teacher’s career”.
Meanwhile, at third level, institutions “remain underfunded relative to institutions internationally”.
In response, the report recommends undergraduates “contribute a greater portion of the cost of their education”.
NCC chairman Don Thornhill — a former secretary general of the Department of Education — welcomed the changes currently being implemented but added that more needs to be done, especially with regard to the teaching of Irish.
“The elephant in the room is Irish. Giving a huge amount of time to teaching Irish doesn’t seem to have worked, and we have been doing that since 1922.
“Despite the economic importance of education, there has been a strong bias in the department to the social and cultural roles of education but you won’t have a vibrant social or cultural society if there is no work,” he added.
The report, which was co-authored by government thinktank Forfas, also recommends measures to reduce the cost of doing business in Ireland including the phasing out of subsidies for peat-generated electricity, a faster planning process, an accelerated re-evaluation process for commercial rates and further investment in broadband infrastructure.
This could be the last such report, as the two bodies involved may disappear. Forfas has been earmarked for integration with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, while the future of the NCC will be reviewed later this year.
Last night an education department spokesman defended its record. “The Department of Education gives the teaching and learning of maths high priority (and) has prioritised the rollout of a new maths curriculum — Project Maths — in second-level schools,” he said.
IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ten Week Plan for Leaving Certificate Irish Oral Exam
January 10, 2012
Workshops aimed at Irish teachers on the topic of the Irish Oral exam, directed by educational advisor Elaine Ní Neachtain, will take place next week in Mayo and Dublin.
The workshops will concentrate on the 2012 Irish Oral Exam. Teachers will receive training on the teaching resource Cuireadh Chun Cainte, and a ten week plan will be set out outlining the best way to prepare their students between now and exam time.
The first workshop will take place on Monday, 16 January 2012, from 6pm-7:30pm, in Castlebar Education Centre and the same workshop will take place in Dublin on Tuesday, 17 January 2012, in Áras Fhoras na Gaeilge, 7 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 between 5pm-6:30pm.
The workshops are organised by Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge and Comhar na Múinteoirí Gaeilge in association with Togra Mhaigh Eo Chonradh na Gaeilge. Reserve your place on this practical workshop by contacting 01 6398448.
A New Series for Leaving Cert Students available on Podcast
January 10, 2012
A New Year, a new school term and Raidió na Life 106.4FM is continuing its series for Leaving Cert students, Gaeilge na hArdteiste, with an emphasis on Oral Irish in the weeks ahead. Starting on Friday January 6th 2012 at 6.30pm, the Dublin-based Irish language station will broadcast eight programmes focusing on the Oral Irish exam, in particular on the new aspect of the exam, Describe a Picture-Series and Conversation.
The oral Irish test is of much greater importance in the Leaving Cert in the new syllabus. Marks have jumped from 150 to 240 for the 2012 exam. Another programme, concentrating on the Aural, Reading Comprehension and Composition, will follow. All programmes are available on podcast. Earlier programmes in the series, broadcast during the first term, are also available on podcast and individual students can listen at a time that suits them.
The first programme gives an overview of the new syllabus. Ten follow-on programmes then focus on the literature course. Two experts, who know the course inside-out, discuss part of the course on each programme. The poets Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, Pádraig Mac Suibhne and Biddy Jenkinson, along with prose-writers Ré Ó Laighléis, Éibhlís Ní Dhuibhne , Deirdre Ní Ghrianna, and a host of other authors whose works feature on the new Leaving Cert syllabus, can be heard discussing their work. This is a great opportunity for Leaving Cert students to hear some of the poets and other authors reading their own work and explaining what inspired them. Teachers will find the programmes particularly useful – the variety of views will help provoke classroom discussion. This series, by the Scéal Eile production company, has been funded under the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s Sound & Vision Scheme for broadcast on Raidió na Life 106.4FM.
Further Information: Máiréad Uí Dhomhnaill: 087-7443037.
Coláiste Feirste – Latest newsletter
January 9, 2012
Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh – Latest newsletter
January 9, 2012
Nuachtlitir Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh
Próiseas Comhairliúcháin maidir le maoiniú na nEagras Gaeilge fógartha
January 9, 2012
Gaelscoil i mbaol druidim
January 6, 2012
Opposition to Irish language merger
January 6, 2012
A chara,
We, as members of the Irish language community both within and outside of the Gaeltacht, expect that the Government will change its decision to merge the functions of the Language Commissioner with the Ombudsman Office in 2012 and are calling on the Government to make that change now rather than dragging out the process and further damaging the effectiveness of the office.
The language commissioner has been widely recognised as a highly efficient and dynamic commissioner who has been praised not only for his work in defending citizens’ rights but also for being a proactive advocate of best language practice. A recent example of this would be the highly attractive module on general language rights that his office recently developed for use in transition year at second level.
We now know that the decision, as admitted by the Minister of State for the Gaeltacht in the Dáil on November 24th, could actually cost the state money. The decision also did not take in to account the fact that the current language commissioner has been reappointed until 2016 as an independent commissioner and therefore could open the State to the risk of legal action which could cost the State even more money. Indeed, An Bord Snip Nua when it looked at the office identified no efficiencies to be made and made no recommendation to alter the status of the office of the language commissioner as an independent office.
All political parties and the Irish language and Gaeltacht organisations have backed the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2012-2030. We acknowledge that funding will be a problem in the short term, but why undermine the strategy and the goodwill behind it with this decision that has been acknowledged as having no savings to make to the exchequer?
We believe that the Government should look at the economic arguments coupled with the wishes and the belief of the Irish language community both within and outside of the Gaeltacht that the office of the language commissioner should be supported, that it has our trust and that it has been a very effective service since been set up in 2004.
Reversing their decision is therefore the logical and correct thing to do and should be done without delay. – Is muidne,
AODÁN Mac AN MHÍLIDH, Gaeilge Átha Luain; AOILEANN Nic DHONNACHA; BLÁTHNAID Ní GHRÉACHÁIN, Gaelscoileanna Teo; BREANDÁN Mac GEARAILT, Ball d’Údarás na Gaeltachta; CABRÍNÍ de BARRA, Comhlucht Forbartha na nDéise CAITLÍN NEACHTAIN, Bainisteoir, Comharchumann Dhúiche Sheoigheach; CAOIMHÍN Ó HEAGHRA, An Foras Pátrúnachta; CARMEL Nic EOCHAIDH, Spleodar; COLM Mac SÉALAIGH; CONCHUBHAIR Mac LOCHLAINN, Seachtain na Gaeilge; SEOSAIMH Ó CONCHUIR, Cumann Cearta Sibhialta Ghaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne; ROIBEARD Ó HEARTÁIN PÁID Ó NEACHTAIN, Cumann na nOifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge (Earnáil Phoiblí); DONNCHA Ó hÉALLAITHE; DONNCHADH Ó hAODHA, Uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge; ÉAMONN Mac NIALLAIS, Guth na Gaeltachta; EITHNE O’DOHERTY, Craobh na gCeithre Chúirteanna; EOIN Ó RIAIN; FEARGAL Ó CUILINN, Comhluadar; GARY REDMOND, Uachtarán Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn; GEARÓID Ó MURCHÚ, An Spailpín Fánach; JULIAN de SPÁINN, Aontas Phobal na Gaeilge; LIAM Ó MAOLAODHA, Oireachtas na Gaeilge; LORCÁN Mac GABHANN, Glór na nGael;MAEDHBH Ní DHÓNAILL, Ógras; MÁIRTÍN Ó MAOLMHUAIDH, Gaelphobal Cheantar an tSratha Báin; MÍCHEÁL de MÓRDHA, Uachtarán an Oireachtais 2010; NIALL COMER, Uachtarán, Comhaltas Uladh; PÁDRAIG Mac FHEARGHUSA, Fóram Gaeilge Chiarraí; PEADAR de BLÚIT, Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn; ROBBIE CRONIN, an chéad ionadaí don Ghaeilge thar cheann an ASTI; RUTH Ní SHIADHAIL, Gaeilge Locha Riach SEÁN Ó MURCHADHA, Craobh Mhuineacháin Conradh na Gaeilge, C/o Sráid Fhearchair, Baile Átha Cliath 2.
IRISH TIMES
Party to mark 30 years of teaching through Irish
January 5, 2012
CALLING all Gaeilgeoirí! 2012 marks the 30th anniversary of education through Irish in Carlow and there’s a hell of a hoolie planned!
Coinciding with the International Pan Celtic Festival, which will be hosted locally for the coming two years, a fantastic reunion of pupils and teachers, past and present, is planned for Sunday 8 April.
Gaelscoil Eoghain Uí Thuairisc opened its doors on 1982 to 20 junior infants. The old school, now the Cathedral Parsih Centre on College Street, paved the way for bigger and better things for education in the country and the school has gone from strength to strength ever since, moving to its current premises in Ashgrove in December 2006.
Second-level education through Irish was made available for pupils with the setting-up of Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach in 1990. A growing demand for and interest in education ‘as Gaeilge’ meant that the Gaelcholáiste also moved to state-of-the-art facilities in 2006, after a long wait and planning process.
According to founder, Bríd de Róiste: “Thirty years later, the Gaelscoil has an enrolment of almost 500 pupils, while there are 335 students in the Gaelcholáiste.”
To mark 30 years of education through Irish in Carlow, past pupils, as well as past and present parents, teachers and staff, are invited to the celebrations on Easter Sunday – and a huge reunion is envisaged.
The team at Glór Cheatharlach are using Facebook to spread the word. More information is available from emma@glorcheatharlach.ie.
CARLOW NATIONALIST
