Junior Cert Irish under review
November 4, 2013
Major reform for the Junior Certificate was announced by the Department of Education last October.
The new structure will be implemented on a phased basis from 2014 and the reformed examination will be taken for the first time in 2017.
Under the new system, students will take between 8 and 10 subjects from a wide range of traditional exam subjects and ‘short courses’ including subjects such as Chinese, Physical Education and Digital Media Literacy. Individual schools will devise a program of subjects from which students will choose.
Schools will be expected to put together a program that will develop the ability and thinking of students with subjects that meet the needs of that particular school body. It is hoped that the new Junior Certificate will see students rather than examinations at the centre of the new approach to assessment.
Irish, English and Mathematics will remain core subjects and 2016 will see Science introduced to this group.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is undertaking a consultation process on the background paper for the review of Irish and submissions are invited from any interested parties on the matter.
Participants are asked to send submissions to consultation@ncca.ie or to take part in the process by filling in either a short survey or a full survey on the NCCA website by 20 December 2013.
Irish is one of the Phase 2 subjects, along with Business Studies and Science, to be introduced to first year students in the autumn of 2015 as part of the junior cycle developments. English, the only Phase 1 subject, will have been introduced the previous year. The new specification for Irish will be published in autumn, 2014, a year in advance of its introduction.
All documents relating to the consultation process are available here.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Oideachas trasteorann ag méadú ó thuaidh agus ag titim ó dheas
November 4, 2013
Extra marks for Civil Service exams in Irish abolished
November 1, 2013
A system whereby those completing Civil Service entrance exams in Irish got an extra 6 per cent added to their marks has been abolished by the Government.
At the weekly Cabinet meeting, Ministers accepted a recommendation by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin to discontinue the bonus points system on the basis that it is an anomaly and its intention of promoting Irish speakers within the Civil Service has not worked.
The Cabinet accepted the argument that there are better means of ensuring there are civil servants and public servants with a proficiency in Irish to serve Gaeltacht areas or to work in specific areas where a good standard of Irish is necessary.
However, Mr Howlin’s department has yet to devise a specific plan to achieve this aim. It has indicated panels will be set aside for those who are fluent or proficient in Irish.
Decision criticised Conradh na Gaeilge was critical of the decision. Its president Donnchadh Ó hAodha said the abolished system had not been replaced by a satisfactory alternative.
“The new proposed system to set aside 6 per cent of recruitment panels in the Civil Service for new employees with Irish is not adequate.
“Instead of being ambitious, brave and doing the right thing, the Government is going to further weaken the service provided by the State in Irish for the Gaeltacht and Irish language speaking community.”
He questioned how the policy decision tallied with the Government’s 20-year strategy for the Irish language.
Julian de Spáinn, general secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge was also critical of the change.
“There is no doubt but that every government since the 1970s has made a mess of encouraging the Irish language in the Civil Service and providing a service of a high standard in Irish to the Gaeltacht and Irish language speaking community.”
www.irishtimes.com
Speaking with one voice
November 1, 2013
A chara, –
It was great to read about “One Voice”, various language teaching professionals co-operating toward the vision of a multilingual Irish population (Education, October 29th).
The strategy of an integrated language curriculum with Irish and English at its core and involving teaching through the medium of second and third languages as a matter of course has long been championed by Prof David Little of TCD and is certainly an idea whose time has come.
The Finnish education system is often held out as an ideal by Irish commentators a nd rightly so. The Finnish system has multilingualism at its core, rooted in early acquisition of the country’s two national languages: Finnish and Swedish.
Teacher training is key. High standards must be expected in order to be achieved. Investment is needed but even more important is the understanding that the acquisition of languages to a very high standard by teachers of those languages is a condition precedent.
We are the most gregarious people in the world. We are natural linguistics , we just don’ t know it yet.
– Is mise,
DÁITHÍ Mac CÁRTHAIGH BL,
An Leabharlann Dlí, Baile Átha Cliath 7.
www.irishtimes.com
News from East Galway
November 1, 2013
Chat Groups – Courses – Competitions – Other Opportunities
Register for online Irish courses
Gaeilge gan Stró + Gramadach gan Stró
Pay €80, get €30 back*
Info: 091-870718 / oifig@lochariach.com
Homework Clinic
Help with homework for parents of primary school children over tea and coffee in an informal setting. Every school Monday from 14.45 to 16.15 … back 11th Nov.
The Monthly Scrabble Challenge – Are you up to it?
Eolas | Info: 087 1953884 / oifig@lochariach.com
Join the next Scrabble in Irish evening in the Loughrea Hotel & Spa bar, Tuesday, 12 November, at 7.30pm. For Irish speakers, learners and those with the cúpla focal …. All interested are welcome!
Chat for Teenagers
Info: 091-870718 / oifig@lochariach.com
Chat group for secondary school students in first and second year every Wed. from 16.15 to 17.15 … homework serves as guide to the sessions but practise in speaking Irish is the primary focus … for €2 per week … back 11th Nov.
Enrolment Night for Summer Colleges in East Galway
Info: 087-3903994 / colaisteneifinn@gmail.com
Register your 12-18 year olds with Coláiste Néifinn for their Irish day colleges in Athenry and Glenamaddy next summer. Enrolment takes place in Raheen Woods Hotel, Athenry, on Wed., 6 Nov., at 18.00.
Shortstory Competition in Irish for adults
Info: Seosamh Ó Beirgin, gearrsceal@eircom.net
Organised by the Ballinasloe branch of Conradh na Gaeilge, Craobh Grealláin, for over 18s. Shortstories in Irish only. The prize is €300 … Deadline: 1 February 2014
Calendar for Irish language events in East Galway
Bilingual calendar now online. This is a platform for Irish-speaking or bilingual events hosted by the various organisations, community groups, or individuals who are actively running or involved in them. Contact the office to add an event, a club, or other: 091-870718 / oifig@lochariach.com
Fun Irish Club
Info: Ruth 091-870718 / Maura Kelly Stewart 087-2187924
The fun club for national school children, in Rang 2-6, runs on school Saturdays from 13.00 to 15.00, in Woodford. Check out the latest pictures … back on 9 Nov.
Copyright 2013 © Gaeilge Locha Riach.
Gaeilge Locha Riach • 3 Seanbhóthar na Gaillimhe • Baile Locha Riach, Co na Gaillimhe • Ireland
Oifig@lochariach.com
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