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Summer Classes – Special Offer

April 30, 2012

Gaelchultúr’s Irish language evening classes for adults will be starting the week commencing 21 May 2012 in Dublin and in Carlow. The classes will take place one night a week over 6 weeks.

We’re offering a special discount to those who book a course before the 8 May. Until that date, the fee will be €100 instead of the usual €120. Don’t miss out – go to www.gaelchultur.com now to get more information and to book a place.

Most parents would choose state run or multi-denominational schools – survey

April 30, 2012

ONLY a quarter of parents with dependent children would opt to send them to a church-run primary school, a poll has found.

Some 27pc of parents would choose a primary school owned and managed by the Church, compared with the remainder, who would opt for a Vocational Education Committee (VEC) school, multi-denominational or State-run.

The survey, commissioned by the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) and carried out by RedC, also found that while only a quarter would choose a Church-run school, the majority of respondents still want religion taught during the school day.

“While there appears to be a public appetite for choice in the models of school patronage available, with most people opting for models that are not based on the ethos of a Church, there is still strong demand for religious instruction to be taught within the school day,” said IPPN president Gerry Murphy.

Despite this, he said the overriding objective of the survey is to ensure the highest standards of teaching are available to all children regardless of their background.

The IPPN-RedC poll saw a random sample of 729 adults questioned – including those with no dependent children – during March this year.

Among those surveyed who have dependent children (under 16 years), 30pc said they would send them to a VEC school, which is run by the State.

A quarter (24pc) would opt for a multi-denominational school such as Educate Together, and 20pc would choose a State-run school.

While most would not have their children educated by the church, 67pc said they would still want their child to receive religious instruction during the school day.

They would also like their children to get help with preparation for the sacraments, such as first confession, first communion and confirmation.

Some 31pc of parents would rather their children receive religious education outside of school.

Of that figure, the majority (60pc) said the responsibility to educate their children on religion should fall to the parents, 26pc believed it should be the clergy’s responsibility and 13pc teachers’.

IPPN director Sean Cottrell described the survey as a snapshot of the preferences of broad Irish society.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn launched the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism last week, which was set up to consult on the primary system to ensure the patronage of schools reflect the diversity of the population.

The idea is to ensure schools are inclusive of all pupils, regardless of their background or religion.

The Minister will consider a report compiled by an independent advisory group within the forum.

INDEPENDENT.IE

New research reveals that while the majority of parents want change in school patronage, they still want religion taught within the school day

April 30, 2012

According to an IPPN commissioned RedC poll, Three out of four parents would opt for primary schools run by patron bodies other than churches, while a similar majority want religion taught within the school. This poll provides IPPN with independent evidence of parental and wider public opinion, enabling the network to engage with, and contribute to, the debate on patronage and pluralism with a meaningful and credible voice.

The research shows that:

  • 30% of parents would prefer to send children to primary school run by VEC on behalf of the State
  • 27% of parents would opt for  Church-run  primary schools  – current model
  • 24% of parents would choose multi-denominational primary  schools – eg. Educate Together  model
  • 20% of parents would opt for State-run primary  schools – no patron.

Three out of four parents would send their children to schools run by patron bodies other than Chruches if they had a choice, according to the results of a major new poll carried out by RedC on behalf of the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN), the professional body representing primary school leaders.

The poll was conducted before Easter among 729 respondents aged between 18 and 54.

Of the respondents to the poll, 45% were parents with dependent children under 16 and the rest had no dependent children.

This is the first independently commissioned professional research capturing the public’s views on primary school patronage since the publication of the report of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism which is advising the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, on patronage and pluralism in primary schools.

When asked which type of school parents with dependent children and those without dependent children would choose for their children, the poll found that:

  • 30% of parents with dependent children and the same number of those without dependent children would choose to send their children to a primary school owned and managed by a VEC, on behalf of the State, which provides for the instruction of religions within the school day;
  • 27% of parents with dependent children and 20% of  those without dependent children would opt to send their children to a primary school owned and managed by a Church which provides for the instruction of its own religion within the school day;
  • 24% of parents with dependent children and 25% of those without dependent children would choose to send their children to a school owned and managed by a multi-denominational group – for example, Educate Together – which facilitates the instruction of a number of religions on the school premises outside the school day; and,
  • 20% of parents with dependent children and 25% of those without dependent children would opt to send their children to a primary school owned and managed directly by the State without patronage which provides for the instruction of religion outside the school day.

When asked about when religious instruction and preparation for the sacraments should be taught – for example, first confession, first communion and confirmation – 67% of parents with dependent children said during the school day and 31% said outside the school day.

When the same question was asked of those parents without dependent children, 61% opted for religious instruction during the school day and 38% chose outside the school day.

According to 4% of respondents, that question did not apply to them.

Of the parents who opted for religious instruction outside the school day, 60% wanted that responsibility to fall to parents, 26% to the clergy and 15% to teachers.

Of those without dependent children who opted for religious instruction outside the school day, 59% wanted that duty to fall to parents, 28% to the clergy and 13% to teachers.

Seán Cottrell, IPPN Director, described the poll as a ‘snapshot of the preferences of broad Irish society, which included parents with and without dependent children, on the type of school they want for their children’.

‘IPPN represents principals in primary schools of all patronage types without favouring one over another.  We are committed to researching the various models and to listening to the voices of parents who are the most important stakeholders in primary education patronage. IPPN commissioned this research to gauge parental and wider public opinion on the type of patronage, ethos, religious or otherwise, that should inform primary school education as we embrace changing societal demographics,’ said Mr Cottrell.

As Minister Quinn considers the report of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism, IPPN has a number of concerns:

Many parents will have raised expectations which may not be possible to deliver and will present difficulties due to accommodation and staffing limitations;
There will be further pressure on principals who may find themselves in a game of high-stakes diplomacy between a host of stakeholders;
While principals strive to make schools as inclusive and open as possible, the change implications from the forum report are not within the gift of principals. This is a point about which the majority of parents may not be aware; and,
The essential focus for every principal must be to lead and manage the quality of   learning at a time of unprecedented change in schools.

Gerry Murphy, IPPN President, said the the ‘independent professional research will help to inform decision-making and play a constructive role in helping Government and education partners understand the preferences of parents today and those of the future’.

‘Strikingly, the vast majority of both parents with dependent children and those without dependent children believe that religious instruction and sacramental preparation should be taught during the school day – even though there is a similar majority who would prefer schools not to be owned and managed by the main churches. While there appears to be a public appetite for choice in the models of school patronage available, with most people opting for models that are not based on the ethos of a Church, there is still strong demand for religious instruction to be taught within the school day. In all this, however, we must not lose sight of our overriding objective which is to uphold the highest standards of teaching and learning for our children regardless of their background,’ said Mr Murphy.

IPPN.IE

Poll indicates three-quarters of parents want change in primary school patronage

April 30, 2012

A NEW POLL commissioned by the Irish Primary Principals Network has shown that three out of four parents would send their children to schools run by patrons other than Churches if they had a choice.

The poll was conducted by RedC before Easter among 729 respondents aged between 18 and 54. Forty-five per cent of respondents were parents with children under 16, while the rest had no dependent children.

While 27 per cent of parents with dependent children would choose to send their children to a school owned and managed by a school, and providing its own religious instruction, 30 per cent of those with dependents would rather a VEC-managed school which provides for religious instruction throughout the day.

Twenty-four per cent of parents would choose a multi-denominational school, which caters for religious instruction outside of the school day, and 20 per cent of those with dependents would send their children to a state-run school without any form of patronage with religious instruction provided for outside of the school day.

The poll is the first of its kind since the publication of the report of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism.

Earlier this month education minister Ruairí Quinn welcomed the report, which showed that while 96 per cent of education provision at primary level is denominational arising from the historical development of Irish primary education, there is clearly increased demand for new forms of multi-denominational and non-denominational schooling, as well as increased demand for Irish language schooling.

Meanwhile Minister Quinn has said that the multi-denominational Educate Together will be confirmed as patrons to a second-level school next month. The minister has praised the organisation for its contribution to Irish education as an agent for change and innovation.

The Minister is due to receive recommendations from the expert group on patronage for second level schools scheduled to be opened in the next three years. Educate Together has applied to open second level schools in Drogheda, Greystones, Tyrellstown/Mulhuddart, Blanchardstown and Lusk.

THEJOURNAL.IE

“Practical supports urgently needed for Irish speaking families”

April 30, 2012

Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge has welcomed the progress made under the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish language with the announcement of a new language support programme and a language planning process in Gaeltacht areas.

However, the umbrella body for the Irish language voluntary sector has said that further clarification is required in relation to the roles which various state agencies will play in implementing this work and in particular the role of the Department of Education and Skills.

Yesterday, (April 26th) Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs, Dinny McGinley TD, announced details of the new language support programme and language planning process.

The new language support programme will come into place following the end of Scéim Labhairt na Gaeilge, a scheme where an allowance  was given to Irish language speaking families in Gaeltacht regions.

Minister McGinley indicated that the new language support programme will make provision for an information campaign in conjunction with the Health Service Executive where information about the advantages of raising children with the Irish language will be provided to new mothers and expectant mothers in hospitals in the western region.

An Chomhdháil recognises this as a valuable starting point however  Kevin De Barra, Acting Director of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, says the time has come for more practical measures  to support young families who wish to raise their children with Irish and that this should be done in consultation with organisations who have been working in the field for many years such as Comhluadar.

“Gaeltacht families in particular need support as the most recent linguistic study of the Gaeltacht has shown that the language may not survive as a community language in Gaeltacht regions before the  full implementation of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish language”.

Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge has also welcomed the announcement of the development of the Department’s Language Assistants Scheme which supports children attending schools in Gaeltacht in learning and developing their language skills.

Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge will insist the Department provides, without delay, the necessary training and support to language assistants, as pledged, to ensure the success of this scheme at community level.

Minister McGinley also announced yesterday, the details of a language planning process for the Gaeltacht. Under the Gaeltacht Bill 2012, which will be put before the Houses of the Oireachtas later this year, Gaeltacht areas will in future be defined based on linguistic criteria, rather than the current geographical approach.

Under the new process, the Gaeltacht will be divided into 19 distinct language planning areas, and a unique language plan will be drawn up for each area.

The language plans will be implemented by co-operatives and community-based organisations funded by Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Kevin De Barra, Acting Director of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge questions the choice of grouping together various language communities with different patterns of language use within language planning areas.  He notes that one of the areas, Cois Fharraige, in Conamara, is a large region which spans from Na Forbacha further west to Ros an Mhíl, with great language diversity among its residents, some of whom live in Category A communities, and others who live in Category C, as defined in the Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht.

The Minister of State outlined plans to develop inactivates in conjunction with Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in the area of language planning training to community organisations. Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge believes further resources and support must be made available to organisation who  already have challenging work programmes in place in order to accomplish the necessary language planning objectives.

A press release issued by Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge

Waiting for a new school

April 30, 2012

A chara, – Today, April 30th, the Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, opens a fantastic, brand new, secondary school facility in Wicklow town, for which we congratulate all concerned.

But, perhaps, he can take a few moments and ponder with Wicklow VEC the plight of its poor relation, Coláiste Ráithín in Bray. Coláiste Ráithín was to have a new school built at the same time as Wicklow town’s, but now (17 years after a new school building was first sanctioned), with its proposed site in Nama, Coláiste Ráithín is still waiting (like Godot), with no sign of any solution, at all, in sight.

Is this, we wonder, the first case of being NAA-MAD while minding our own business? We will go on! – Is mise,

PAUL MOORE,
Spokesperson,
Cairde Ráithín/Parents’ Committee,
Coláiste Ráithín,
Bothar Florans,
Bré, Chill Mhantáin.

IRISH TIMES

Babaí steps to promote Irish language

April 27, 2012

EXPECTANT AND new mothers are being recruited for the Government’s new Irish language support programme.

Flyers will be distributed in maternity wards in west coast hospitals, advertising the benefits of rearing your child through Irish.

Announcing details of the family-oriented programme, which is part of the Government’s 20-year strategy for Irish, Minister of State for the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley acknowledged the “deontas”, or system of grants administered over decades to keep the language alive had “failed”.

“We used to have the Gaeltacht grants for houses and doors and windows, which might have helped the infrastructure and quality of life, but did nothing for the native tongue,” he said.

“If we are going to increase the number of daily speakers, we need to give families more practical support, not money.”

The HSE is facilitating the new awareness campaign, focusing initially on maternity services in Galway city, Castlebar, Co Mayo, and Letterkenny, Co Donegal.

New parents who wish to raise their children through the medium of Irish will be offered a “support pack”, which includes a CD and book “suitable for children”, and told about a dedicated website.

Teenagers are also to be enlisted under the plan to reverse the downward trend of Irish use, evident in various censuses, Mr McGinley said. Fluent speakers between 15 and 17 are to be offered special training courses to enable them to work as assistants in Irish-language summer colleges.

Speaking in Inverin, Co Galway, yesterday, Mr McGinley also announced that new language initiative will be developed in 19 Gaeltacht areas, beginning with six of them. This will be conducted by community-based organisations in association with Údarás na Gaeltachta and the department.

Sinn Féin Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh has asked why plans were not being initiated for all 19 areas, and has also expressed concern about the fact that the procedure will be overseen by Mr McGinley’s department.

www.irishtimes.com

Duais fiontraíochta buaite ag daltaí i bPobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne

April 25, 2012

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

FÓGRA: Príomhoide do Ghaelscoil an Chuilinn – dáta deiridh ag druidim linn!

April 25, 2012

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

Protest March to demand accommodation for Coláiste Ráithín, April 25th

April 24, 2012

Coláiste Raithín Parents Association Protest March to Department of Education and Skills on Wednesday, 25th April 2012 at 14.30, to demand a new school building for Coláiste Raithín to open by 2014

In light of the Minister’s recent roll out of the DES new buildings and extensions programme for the next 5 years and beyond, which does NOT include any provision AT ALL for Coláiste Ráithín, the parents believe that the time has come to take direct action to protect the valuable education resource in north Wicklow that is Coláiste Ráithín.  Negotiations with the Minister and the Department of Education and Science, Wicklow VEC (the patrons of Coláiste Raithín), Wicklow T.D.’s, Bray Town Council, especially in the last 6 months, have all yielded no real, tangible  progress. The Parents most recent letter to the Minister has even gone without acknowledgement.

On Wednesday, 25th April 2012 at 14.30, pupils from non-exam years in Coláiste Raithín accompanied by parents, will protest at the Department of Education and Skills and hand in a replacement Information Pack to the Minister.  This large pack (previously sent to the Minister) contains the bulk of the correspondence from the last 16 years or more, the period over which many parents committees have been negotiating for a new school building.  Parents want Minister Ruari Quinn to take action to resolve the current Catch-22 situation in which the Coláiste now finds itself.  This protest march is only the first of many planned until the matter is resolved- a second Protest March is already planned to take place on Wednesday 2nd of May to the Dáil.

While there seems to be general agreement amongst all parties that a new school building is required, there seems to be NO URGENCY to resolve this matter. This is particularly worrying for both current and future pupils and their parents, given that a brand new state of the art school is planned for 2014 in Blacklion, Greystones, a distance of only 4 miles from Coláiste Raithín.  Such a new school facility can only have a huge negative impact on Coláiste Raithín and its future as it is right in the centre of its unique catchment area.  Parents are demanding that it is now time to bring this long outstanding matter to an immediate and satisfactory conclusion.

Therefore, in order that a new school building for Coláiste Ráithín be open by September 2014, the committee request the Minister to do the following urgently:

– all outstanding issues regarding the current proposed Bray site be determined immediately;
– the Blacklion site be made a default option only to be exercised if the Old Bray Gold Club site is not available immediately;
– guarantee parity of esteem and equality of resources for the only Gaelcholáiste in North Wicklow;
– make the relocation of Coláiste Ráithín into a new school building, to open in September 2014, an absolute priority

NOTE: A relocated Coláiste Ráithín, in its entirety, includes staff, ethos and existing policies, including its current policies of admission for all its feeder schools in the area outlined above.

For further information, please contact: Paul Moore, spokesperson from Coiste Cóiríochta Coláiste Ráithín / 086 838 5049 / pmoore@iol.ie

Members of north Wicklow community can sign the petition in hard copy at Coláiste Ráithín or online at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/colaisteraithinnewschoolbuilding2014/

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