Ciorcal Comhrá Iarscoile i gCeatharlach
February 3, 2012
NUIG launches iTunes channel to help schoolchildren learn Irish
February 3, 2012
A new learning resource, The iTunes U – COGG Channel, developed by NUI Galway for Gaeltacht and all-Irish primary schools was launched this week.
The iTunes U – COGG (An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta) Channel comprises audio and video resources that have been carefully selected from both the Raidió na Gaeltachta and NUIG archives, as part of a research project undertaken by the university’s Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge.
The 300 new learning resources include songs, poems, stories, points of information, and history in the different Gaeilge dialects that are aimed at stimulating language acquisition and enrichment among Gaeltacht and all-Irish primary schools – particularly in fifth and sixth class.
A learning plan has also been developed for teachers to assist in the effective use of the resources in the classroom. The channel will also have resources for other learner groups.
“Digital resources of a high standard are a prerequisite for the contemporary classroom,” said Muireann Ní Mhóráin, chief executive of COGG.
“The new channel will add significantly to the current corpus of Irish language teaching resources available and it’s great see to our rich cultural heritage and new technology being intertwined to develop Irish language learning resources in such an attractive and efficient way.”
GALWAY ADVERTISER
Gaeltacht schools still face cuts despite 500+ taking to the streets
February 3, 2012
500 people marched outside Dáil Éireann last night in opposition to the proposed cuts to small, rural and Gaeltacht schools. Despite the large group of protesters the motion to oppose these cuts was rejected by a Dáil vote last night.
Many people from Gaeltacht areas around the country travelled to Dublin last night to take part in the protest including groups from An Bun Beag, Lios Póil, Conamara, Mayo, Donegal, Kerry, Cork, An Rinn and Ráth Chairn.
The cuts proposed in last December’s Budget will result in the number of pupils required for a four-teacher school increasing from 81 to 83 students.
Gaeltacht schools had previously benefitted from a favourable quota due to the challenges involved with teaching in Gaeltacht areas, with 76 pupils required for a four-teacher school. This number however, is due to rise to 86 by 2014, a hike that will require 10 extra pupils for each Gaeltacht school to preserve their four-teacher status.
A motion by Fianna Fáil opposing these measurements was rejected in a Dáil vote last night by 87:46.
In an interview with Gaelport.com Treasa Ní Mhainín, Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta stated that 12 Gaeltacht schools will lose a teacher in September as a result of these cuts.
Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta are due to meet with Minister of State Dinny McGinley, TD, next week to bring the cases of these schools to the attention of the Government. Their request in early January for an urgent meeting with the Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn, TD, was granted last night and is due to take place by the end of February.
GAELPORT
Protests and insults over school cuts
February 3, 2012
Protests were held outside the Dáil and insults were hurled within it last night over the Government cuts to small schools.
More than 100 protesters gathered outside Leinster House urging Education Minister Ruairi Quinn to reverse the staffing cutbacks.
Inside the Dáil, meanwhile, Government and opposition TDs frequently clashed during the conclusion of the debate on a Fianna Fáil motion condemning the cuts.
Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae labelled the minister a disgrace and called on Government TDs to oppose the cuts.
That led to a particularly heated clash with his constituency rival in Kerry South, Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin, who insisted he was already doing his utmost to protect local schools.
Other Government TDs criticised Fianna Fáil for moving the motion, saying it was hypocritical from a party which had presided over the economic collapse which led to the cutbacks.
Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins reacted furiously to suggestions that his party had “no mandate” to raise the issue, accusing the Government of wanting to foster a “dictatorship”.
He claimed the coalition had an “anti-rural” agenda, as small schools were mostly rural-based.
Another Fianna Fáil TD, Dara Calleary, said the cuts would place the future existence of small schools, scoileanna Gaeilge, and schools of minority faiths in danger.
Minister of state Ciarán Cannon, responding on behalf of Mr Quinn, said it was scare-mongering to suggest schools would close.
The only issue, he said, was that their teacher numbers would not be “as advantageous” as they had been.
Hundreds gather at Dáil for protest against small school cuts
February 3, 2012
HUNDREDS OF PARENTS, teachers and their supporters have gathered outside Leinster House tonight to protest against planned staff cuts in smaller schools.
One demonstrator estimated that as many as 1,500 people had travelled for the demonstration, which was addressed by the president of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation Noreen Flynn.
Flynn hit out at proposed changes to the way teachers are allocated to smaller schools, which she said would result in large increases in class sizes.
“It is not a case of one child extra per class but five or six additional children per class,” she said, adding that the cuts would take place “in classrooms where teachers are already teaching two, three or four class groups in the same room along with special needs children.”
Protester Terri Brosnan, who had travelled with other parents from Dunsany National School, Co Meath, told TheJournal.ie she believed around 1,500 people attended the protest.
She said the cuts were a “direct attack” on the schools which “can least afford it”. “I have children in a small rural school, we have 56 pupils,” she said. “With the cost of petrol I would be seriously out of pocket if we had to travel elsewhere.”
There were also heated scenes inside the Dáil as TDs debated a Fianna Fáil motion on small schools.
Opposition and independent deputies slated the cuts. Wexford TD Mick Wallace said many villages had already lost their shops, post offices and pubs, and asked: “What will be left of rural Ireland?”
But Government representatives defended the measures. Labour’s Michael McNamara said the proposed reductions were far less drastic than those which had been introduced by Fianna Fáil in his own Clare constituency.
THEJOURNAL.IE
Agóid na scoileanna Gaeltachta
February 3, 2012
Deireadh le Díospóireachtaí Ghael-Linn?
February 3, 2012
NCCA Announce Full-Time Post
February 2, 2012
The NCCA have announced a full-time post for an Irish Education Officer. This position remains vacant, following the NCCA’s open competition in the Autumn. The original application form and information booklet can be downloaded from the links below.
Anyone who may be interested, can complete the application form and email it to Morgan Lockhart (morgan.lockhart@ncca.ie) by 5pm on Friday, February 24th.
The interviews will be held at the beginning of March.
Queries can be directed to Áine Armstrong Farrell at 067-8680166.
ICT sa Bhunscoil
February 1, 2012
Demonstration outside the Dáil, 6pm, February 1st
February 1, 2012
Small and rural schools are planning a demonstration outside the Dáil on February 1st at 6pm to protest against the cuts announced in the most recent Budget. Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta would be grateful to anyone who has an hour to spare to come to Kildare Street and show their support for the campaign. Further information is available on their Facebook page.
