Leabhar Nua “Music is the Key”
February 16, 2012
Bí páirteach i roghnú Laureate na nÓg 2012-2014 d’Éirinn
February 16, 2012
Ciarraí na heolaíochta abú!
February 16, 2012
Cúrsa 2 Lá i Leitir Mealláin, Conamara á reáchtáil ag Spleodar
February 16, 2012
Parents in Kildare furious as children of gaelscoileanna ignored
February 16, 2012
THE PARENTS OF more than 1,600 primary school children are planning actions against the Department of Education and Skills following a decision to block the establishment of a post-primary gaelscoil in Maynooth.
Earlier this month, the DES refused to accept an application from An Foras Patrúntachta to take on the patronage of a new school due to be built in the North Kildare town in 2014.
An Coiste Bunaithe (the founding committee for gaelcoláiste) has applied twice in the past five years to establish an Irish-medium secondary school in the area but has failed in both attempts.
There are currently four primary schools who teach through Irish in North Kildare which would be feeder schools for any such coláiste. Those children currently have few options to continue their post-primary education through the medium of Irish.
On announcing plans to build a new school in Maynooth last June, Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn said the criteria used in deciding on patronage would place a particular emphasis on “parental demand for plurality and diversity”.
“Parental preferences should be at the centre of considerations about the type of school to be recognised,” Quinn also said.
Last week, the Department of Education posted what they saw as the valid expressions of interest from patronage bodies. An Foras Patrúnachta’s application was excluded.
Those from County Kildare VEC – which already runs a school in the North Kildare town – and the Loreto Education Trust were accepted.
The Department told TheJournal.ie that a decision had previously been made that the new school in Maynooth would operate through English.
However, it advised that prospective patrons must be willing to establish an Aonad (an Irish speaking unit) if there is demand for one.
Colm Ó Cearúil from An Coiste Bunaithe said this was not enough for the number of children currently being educated through Irish. It would also fail to cater for the growth in the area, he said.
Ó Cearúil said the parents of the children attending the local primary schools are furious and frustrated by the decision. “We are taking a three-pronged action against the decision,” he said, adding that it could lead to a legal challenge.
The parents of the children attending Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich in Maynooth, Scoil Uí Dhálaigh in Leixlip, Scoil Uí Riada in Kilcock and Gaelscoil na nÓg in Dunboyne are furious that their wish to have their children continue their education through the medium of Irish should be dismissed in such an unjust manner.”
He said that they had been willing to compromise and look at taking on a joint patronage of the school – a solution used in other areas of the country.
Previous applications for gaelscoileanna in Maynooth and other parts of North Kildare were refused as Coláiste Cois Life in nearby Lucan was not at capacity.
“North Kildare was told it could not have an Irish secondary school once there were empty seats in the Lucan school. That is no longer the case as the school is now full,” explained Ó Cearúil.
We demand that Ruairí Quinn explains why the DES is opposed to a Gaelcholáiste in Maynooth and to explain why Co. Kildare VEC is posted when the Minister’s own criteria calls for diversity of choice given that the VEC already has a school in the town.”
The group met with a community council this week, as well as local TD Bernard Durkan to discuss the issue.
The large Irish-speaking community in Maynooth has sprang up since a group of parents decided to establish an Irish-speaking primary school by renting local premises from their own funds. North Kildare lost out to Lucan in the previous application for a secondary school.
The new school is due to be built in 2014. A final decision will be made after the closing deadline for applications for patronage on 24 February.
Of the schools due to be built in 2013 and 2014, three will be Irish speaking – one in North Dublin, one in South Dublin and another in Cork. VECs have applied for the patronage of 14 new post-primary schools across the country.
The Journal.ie
A simple formula for education
February 16, 2012
A chara,
There is, of course, merit in some of the 10 changes recommended by Ivan Yates for Irish education (Education Today, February 14th) but unfortunately whatever merit there is, is undermined by the author’s underlying view that the role of education is to serve the needs of the so-called free market.
He writes about rationalisation, as in the consolidation of small rural schools. He talks about incentivising good teaching with financial reward — as if good teachers could be bought. He mentions the critical competitive advantage we have with a natural English-speaking workforce but uses this, not to support, but to undermine the teaching of Irish as our own unique second national language.
According to Mr Yates, “If both Irish and religious studies were replaced by computer studies/information technology learning, we could greatly enhance economic performance”. So there you have it, the solution to our economic woes, from one of the erstwhile heroes of the Celtic Tiger era!
The Irish education system certainly has loads of issues to deal with, but I really do think that Mr Yates should stick to his bookmaking and leave the book learning and teaching to the educationalists. The great majority of teachers can still take pride in belonging to what has always been one of the noblest of all professions, teaching. – Is mise,
JOHN GLENNON,
Cillín Chaoimhín,
Co Chill Mhantáin.
A chara, – While I somewhat agree with Aonghus Ó hAlmhain’s assertion (February 15th) that mastery of one’s native language is a vital asset of a competent programmer, I disagree that the native language of today’s Ireland is An Ghaeilge.
As both a holder of a degree in Irish and a technology professional, I agree with Ivan Yates’s assertion that technology and Irish should at least be optional subjects in our schools. Both were options for me at school in the North over 25 years ago and I find it regrettable that such models are resisted here still. Exposure to basic programming logic at secondary level stood me in good stead in my later career.
I would prefer to have composed this letter in Irish, but the reality is that most of my fellow readers would not understand or bother to translate it. The current education system has failed to revive the language, but we irrationally persist.
Meantime, incredibly in today’s climate, my IT colleagues still find it difficult to recruit capable IT professionals from our nation’s talent pool. – Is mise,
STIOFÁN MacCLÉIRIGH,
An Machaire,
Domhnach Bat,
Co Átha Cliath.
Irish Times
Eagraíochtaí Gaeilge slán go dtí Meitheamh 2013
February 15, 2012
Mayo teachers to bring small schools’ campaign to Taoiseach’s door
February 15, 2012
Primary school teachers from Mayo, and across the region, are to take their campaign to save small rural schools to the door of the Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s constituency office in Castlebar on Saturday, February 25th. Up to 3,000 representatives from small schools across County Mayo and its borders are expected to take part in the march.
The organisers of the Save Our Small Schools Campaign say that they plan to hand in a letter of petition calling for the reversal of retrospective budget cuts to education, in particular those affecting small schools.
The move comes in the wake of Budget cuts announced in December 2011, which increased the pupil teacher ratio retrospectively, basing next year’s posts on September 30, 2011 numbers which were later increased in Decembers Budget.
Up to 150 small schools across County Mayo have joined together to launch a campaign under the umbrella of the Save Our Small Schools group in Mayo against measures taken in December’s budget and having received considerable support up and down the West Coast of Ireland a protest march expected to attract up to 3,000 people will take place on February 25 in Castlebar.
The march will go from the Mall to the Taoiseach’s constituency office on Tucker St. where a letter/petition “signed by over 3,000 people protesting the cuts and will be hand delivered by Mr Kenny’s constituents in Mayo and supporters from affected rural communities”, say the organisers.
The aim is to raise awareness of the detrimental effects on small schools after the budget annoucements.
The protest marchers will gather at the Mall in Castlebar at 1.30pm and will follow a protest route through the town. Following a short address at 2pm by Tom Byrne, Princpal of Partry N.S.,the marchers will continue onto Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s office.
Please the Troika
The effects of Budget in Dec 2011 will leave many communities with no option but to close their local school or to amalgamate with larger town schools, according to the Save Our Small Schools Campaign.
Commenting on the situation one Mayo school principal, Caithríona Carty said, “I am shocked that Mayo has three T.D.s and a Taoiseach in Government who are willing to turn a blind eye to what is happening in their local communities to please the Troika.
“The Taoiseach himself attended and worked in small schools in Mayo, is he going to stand by and watch this happen?”
“These cuts are a direct attack on small rural communities, removing the focal point and diminishing communities throughout rural Ireland, targeting small schools and special needs children.
“The minister doesn’t seem to realise that not everybody can or wants to live in urban areas and therefore by reducing teachers in these areas, makes it impossible to teach with such limited resources and reduced grants coming into schools,” Ms Carty concluded.
All those interested in supporting the stance are welcome to attend the march and should assemble at the Mall at 1.30pm on Saturday February 25th next.
MAYO TODAY
Government not serious about 20 year strategy?
February 14, 2012
Government does for the independence of Language Commissioner – and there has still been no satisfactory explanation for that – then cuts grants to help student teachers spend a bit of time in the Gaeltacht to learn the language they are supposed to teach, lets Foras na Gaeilge and Irish-language voluntary groups drift without leadership, is in no great rush to save the Gaeltacht and has a Minister of State in charge of the language. Does anyone think this Government is serious about the 20-year strategy?
Ultach, IRISH TIMES
Craobh an Earagail de Chumann Múinteoirí Éireann ag eagrú Mórshiúl ar an Satharn 25 Feabhra i nGaoth Dobhar
February 14, 2012
