M.Oid. san Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge
May 1, 2013
100,000 more pupils in our primary schools by next decade
May 1, 2013
PRIMARY school pupil enrolments will grow by up to 100,000 by 2021, according to latest projections from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
It means a jump of 20pc on the 2011 figures, with the number of five to 12-year-olds in the population expected to rise from about 500,000 to 600,000 in the decade. The boom in primary enrolments is expected to remain reasonably stable between 2021 and 2026, before starting to drop.
The surge at primary level will work its way through to second- level, reaching its peak there between 2021 and 2026. The CSO projects a 31-34pc rise in enrolments at secondlevel, ranging between 106,00 and 117,000, in the decade to 2021.
While extra enrolments mean more schools and more teachers, in the current economic climate it also means available funds will be stretched further.
Priority
The Department of Education is adopting a “robbing Peter to pay Paul” approach to cope with extra demand.
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has said the priority is for every school-age child to have a place in a classroom. The five-year school building programme – which is costing €2bn – is focused on areas of population growth and this year, for instance, there is no budget for maintenance and repairs to existing schools.
The 2013 programme will deliver over 25,000 permanent school places, almost 21,000 of which will be additional, and the remainder will replace temporary or unsatisfactory accommodation.
Professor Alan Barrett, of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), said yesterday that the school-building programme should take account of changing needs.
A department spokesman said that the focus of the fiveyear programme was on meeting the obvious demand at primary level and second level up to 2016.
Recruitment
She said that Prof Barrett’s proposal was an interesting one and that it was worthy of consideration. The rising enrolments also have implications for teacher recruitment and the department predicts that about 660 extra primary teachers will be needed each year to cope with growing enrolments.
That is on top of about 870 new appointments annually to replace teachers who retire or leave for other reasons. But the department has ways of controlling teacher numbers in order to keep within budget.
A series of cuts in recent years in areas such as resource and English language teaching has kept a lid on teacher levels – even though enrolments had started to rise. At second-level, changes in arrangements for the allocation of career guidance teachers, has removed about 500 jobs from schools.
A change in the pupil-teacher ratio can also see hundreds of jobs disappear from the system in the the stroke of a pen.
www.independent.ie
Threat to the future of Choláiste Chineál Eoghain, Buncrana
April 30, 2013
Concern has been expressed by GAELSCOILEANNA TEO., Co. Donegal VEC and Coláiste Chineál Eoghain in Buncrana following communication from the Department of Education and Skills that puts the future of the school in doubt. The Department have given notice that the temporary recognition granted to the school, which opened in 2007, is to be rescinded because of low enrolment figures. The Department has outlined 3 options for the school, namely; that it will close on a phased basis, that it will convert to an Aonad (an Irish-medium unit) under the management of a local English-medium school or that the present students would have the option to attend Coláiste Ailigh in Letterkenny, more than 30km from Buncrana.
There are 34 students currently receiving education through the medium of Irish in Coláiste Chineál Eoghain, and a further 17 registered to attend the school in September 2013. It would be a severe blow to them if the school were to lose its status and they were to be denied Irish-medium education as a result. These students and their parents chose Irish-medium education on the understanding that they would be allowed to continue to Leaving Certificate level while immersed in the Irish language. The rights and wishes of these students will be denied if the Department rescind the school’s recognition.
Despite the low enrolment figures in the school at present, there is increasing demand for Irish-medium education at primary level in the area, with pupil numbers increasing in Gaelscoil Bhun Cranncha. It is vital that Coláiste Chineál Eoghain be given time to develop a positive influence on the local gaelscoil to ensure a good transfer rate between the two schools. There is a worry that a decision against the future of Coláiste Chineál Eoghain would have a negative influence on the primary school if the students are not given the opportunity to progress to Irish-medium education at post-primary level. Coláiste Chineál Eoghain caters not only for these students but also for students who travel from Derry for Irish-medium education. This gives the Department and the Government an opportunity to foster cross-border cooperation as per their obligations under the Good Friday Agreement and to cater for a wide school community. There would be too great a risk to the future of the school if it were converted to an Aonad, and a danger that enrolments would drop even further as a result.
“There is an urgent need to protect the status of Coláiste Chineál Eoghain and to give the school every opportunity to grow and develop” said Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, CEO of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. “We recognise the importance of ensuring the viability of schools and the effective use of State resources in the provision of education, but this decision is premature. The Inishowen community have demonstrated a dedication to Irish-medium education and it would be disastrous to put an end to an institution at the very heart of that community. The closure of this school would go against every promise made by the State to support Irish-medium education in the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language. We ask that the Department allow the school more time to raise awareness and promote Irish-medium education in the community so that they might achieve viable enrolment figures.”
Co. Donegal VEC have appealed the Department’s decision on behalf of the school and sought an extension of the school’s temporary recognition. The outcome of this appeal is to be announced shortly and it is hoped that the Department will acknowledge the community’s needs and express wish that an Irish-medium post-primary school be available to the students of Inishowen.
Further information:
Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, CEO, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.
bláthnaid@gaelscoileanna.ie | 01 8535195
Editor’s note:
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is the coordinating body for Irish-medium schools. It provides motivation, assistance and practical support to parents and local communities who wish to found new schools and it operates to support the schools that are already established.
NCCA seeks feedback on Leaving Cert Oral Exam
April 30, 2013
The National Council on Curriculum and Assessment has published a survey on the higher and ordinary level Leaving Cert oral exam.
The survey is aimed at Leaving Cert students who have recently completed the exam and asks them to share opinions in Irish or in English about their personal experience.
The Leaving Cert oral exam has seen significant changes recently with 40% of the overall marks being designated to the spoken language.
The NCCA would like to gather feedback from students in order to look at the best ways to learn Irish in secondary school.
The survey, which only takes 10 minutes, can be found by clicking the following link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/P2DRFYM.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
New Council announced for Raidió na Gaeltachta
April 29, 2013
It was announced today that a new council has been selected for RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta which will be chaired by Lorcán Uí Chinnéide.
The council, which will function for a three year period, will advise the Bord of RTÉ on Raidió na Gaeltachta’s broadcasting policy. The first meeting will take place in May.
The Council is made up of the following members:
Antaine Ó Donnaile from Armagh, former manager and television producer with BBC Northern Ireland.
Dónal Ó Gallchóir, a Donegal Gaeltacht native, former garda in Mayo.
Adrian Breathnach, primary school principal and Director of Gael Taca in Cork.
Máire Seosaimhín Breathnach from An Rinn, Co. Waterford, Irish language officer with Waterford County Council.
Alan Mac Maoldúin, Communications Manager with Cumann Lúthchleas Gael and former member of the council.
Máire Nic Gairbhe, Principal of Gaelscoil Adhamhnáin in Letterkenny, Donegal.
Peadar Mac an Iomaire, Former-Chief Executive of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge and community worker in Connemara.
Sibéal Davitt, dancer and filmmaker from Dublin.
Siobhán Seoighe from Ráth Cairn, executive with An Foras Patrúnachta.
Chairman of the council, Lorcán Ó Cinnéide, is originally from Corca Dhuibhne, Co Kerry and is a former Chief Executive of the Irish Fish Producers Organisation. He has already served a period of time as a member of the council.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Spriocdhátaí Chomórtais Bhliain na Gaeilge ag druidim
April 25, 2013
Picnic Mhór an tSamhraidh – Comhluadar
April 25, 2013
Traenáil “Tús Áite do Leanaí”
April 25, 2013
Principals’ group calls for CAO system for primary schools
April 24, 2013
A Central Applications Office-style process for primary school places could be used to regulate enrolment practice, the professional body for primary school leaders has said.
In a submission to the Department of Education the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) called for a “clearly defined, legally robust national enrolment policy, with a standardised basis for admission to all schools”.
The call comes as Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn prepares to publish draft legisl at i on aimed at regulating school enrolment policies.
Rank schools
The group has called for a web-based system that would allow parents to rank schools in order of preference in a method similar to the CAO application process for college, with clusters of schools defining their catchment areas and co-operating on shared enrolment practice.
The body has called for one annual date for applications by parents and another for a response from schools.
Seán Cottrell of the IPPN said some schools give preference to children based on historical family links, academic or sporting achievements, how early they joined the queue, or whether their parents could afford the advance deposit.
Waiting lists
He said that any new system should prohibit multi-annual waiting lists, booking deposits and aptitude screenings.
“Schools are funded based on the number of children enrolled. IPPN believes that extra weighted capitation values should be applied to Traveller children, new Irish children, children from designated disadvantaged areas, and children with special education needs under the new national enrolment policy.”
Eileen Flynn of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association has rejected the proposal, saying there was a risk of the system becoming “overly-bureaucratic”.
“It is important that the system does not become overly-bureaucratic in trying to resolve an issue for a relatively small number of schools.”
www.irishtimes.com
Foilsithe ar 24 Aibreán 2013
The Irish Times – Louise Holden
Deiseanna Fostaíochta san AE
April 24, 2013
BEIDH cúrsaí fostaíochta san Aontas Eorpach á bplé ag painéal d’ard aoichainteoirí i mBaile Átha Cliath ar an Aoine, 26 Aibreán.
I measc na gcainteoirí ar an lá, beidh Lucinda Creighton TD; Colmcille Ó Monacháin, Ceann Aonad na Gaeilge, An Coimisiún Eorpach; Seán Hade, Ceann Aonad na Gaeilge; Séamus Howard, Dlí-theangeolaí le Comhairle an Aontais Eorpaigh agus Dáithí Mac Cárthaigh BL, Comhordaitheoir Dlí agus Gaeilge.
Cuirfear tús leis an seimineár ag 4.00pm sa léachtlann thuas staighre in Óstaí an Rí, Sráid Henrietta, agus leanfaidh an plé ar dheiseanna fostaíochta go dtí 6.00pm.
www.foinse.ie
Foilsithe ar 24 Aibreán 2013
Foinse – Nuacht an hEarnála le Gaelport.com
