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(Gaeilge) Riachtanais na Scoileanna Oileáin á nAithint

February 28, 2018

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(Gaeilge) Curaclam Teanga na Bunscoile Céim 3 agus 4: Léirigh do thuairimí

February 28, 2018

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(Gaeilge) Maoiniú Áiseanna Teagaisc/ Foghlama Gaeilge agus Sparánachtaí Taighde

February 26, 2018

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(Gaeilge) Comhdháil Chomhairle na Gaelscolaíochta & CAER

February 26, 2018

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(Gaeilge) Cúrsaí Oiliúna leis An Foras Pátrúnachta

February 20, 2018

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(Gaeilge) Comórtas do Bhunscoileanna

February 20, 2018

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(Gaeilge) Ceardlann Oiliúna do Mhúinteoirí Gairmthreorach Iar-bhunscoile

February 20, 2018

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New Irish Medium Provision approved by Pre-school Education Group for Armagh City, Swatragh & Toomebridge

February 19, 2018

Gearóid Mac Ádhaimh, Chairperson of Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (the body charged by the Department of Education with responsibility for the development of Irish-medium education in the north) welcomes the recent decision by the Pre-school Education Group to approve the newly established Irish-medium pre-school provision in Armagh City, Swatragh, Co. Derry and Toomebridge, Co. Antrim.

Mr Mac Ádhaimh believes that this new provision is a reflection of the wider community’s appreciation of the benefits of a bilingual education for children. He explained, “These communities have embarked on an educational journey which will enrich their children’s and their respective communities’ lives. They are opening a door to the educational and cultural benefits that flow from bilingualism and immersion- education.”

He continued, “We endeavour to make Irish-medium education accessible to as many communities as possible in the north and do so within the context of area planning. These newly established preschools (naíscoileanna) enable us to respond to demand within the community for further Irish Medium Education development and provision”.

“The establishment and approval of the three new settings is a significant development for our sector as it is the first time that we have established three new Irish Medium settings in the same year. This development is reflective of the growing demand from the community for Irish Medium. There are now over 6000 children being educated in the sector and with overall numbers set to rise again in this coming year”.

Mr Mac Ádhaimh praised the role of those local people who gave of their own time and energy to make pre-school IME available to their communities. He also recognised the commitment and financial support provided by the All-Ireland language body, Foras na Gaeilge and of Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta (the Trust Fund for IME in the north) stating, “the three communities’ desire to have IME provision on their doorsteps would not have been possible without the belief, drive and commitment of those organisations and individuals.

“ I would like also to thank and give recognition to the great work and support given to the new Naíscoils by our partner organisation Altram , the support group for Irish Medium early years projects. The support of Altram’s Early Years Advisory service has been invaluable to getting the projects off the ground “.

Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta looks forward to working with all our partners in assisting the further development of Irish Medium Education in these three communities as we advise and support them to their next stages of provision of Irish Medium Education and the strengthening of the Irish Language in their areas.
For more information or to register your child please contact:

Orlagh @ 0785112041 (Naíscoil na Caille, Armagh)
John @ 07855902093 (Naíscoil na Fíobha, Toomebridge)
Malachaí @ 07746930591 (Naíscoil Ghreanacháin, Swatragh)

Enrolment policies of Irish-medium schools misrepresented in the media

February 13, 2018

Gaeloideachas CEO Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin has expressed disappointment at recent media reports on the enrolment policies of Irish-medium schools, which have left parents worried and unhappy. The coverage has suggested that mandatory interviews will be used to allocate places for children in Irish-medium schools once the new Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill comes into effect. This is not the case, nor was this method proposed by Gaeloideachas or any other organisation.

The Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill 2016, which is being drafted at present, sets out the enrolment practices that will be allowed, and those that will not, when school boards of management are allocating places in oversubscribed schools. Some 30% of Irish-medium schools are unable to accept all applicants because the schools are overcrowded and give priority to siblings in their enrolment criteria. Those schools have no option but to allocate places based on additional criteria. During extensive consultations on the issue over the past few years, Gaeloideachas and other organisations advocating for Irish-medium education have clarified that the system is one that welcomes every child, regardless of their level of ability or linguistic background, and that the Irish language and Irish-medium education is a gift that should be available to every child. Unfortunately, however, this model of education is not widely available, and its development is being hindered. This is in spite of increased demand from parents, who recognise the benefits it offers their children, as well as a general increase in the public’s interest in the Irish language. Thousands of children every year miss out on the opportunity to attend Irish-medium schools due to a lack of vision and support from the Department of Education & Skills. If the proposed ban on schools giving preference to children coming from preschools comes into effect, also included in the Bill, it will have grave consequences for children’s opportunities to progress from naíonraí to Irish-medium primary schools. It will also diminish the status of the naíonraí at a time when the early-years education sector is already very vulnerable.

Children who speak Irish at home are a tiny minority within a minority, and make up just 5% of those attending Irish-medium schools. Gaeloideachas supports the schools that give priority to those children in their enrolment policies in cases of oversubscription. It is vital to ensure their right to education in their native language, and their presence in the classroom helps other children to acquire the language. Anna Ní Chartúir, Gaeloideachas President, said “ I hope the Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill 2016 will ensure that every child who speaks Irish at home will have a place in an Irish-medium school”.

Gaeloideachas also supports families who have little or no Irish, but who want Irish-medium education for their children. Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin addressed the heart of the issue when she said that “if Irish-medium education was available as a real choice for families, with access to primary and post-primary schools, this discussion would not be happening. Parents’ wishes would be respected, the benefits of Irish-medium education would be widely available and there would be real support for families who speak Irish at home.”

Further information
Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, CEO: 086 8050335
Anna Ní Chártúir, President: 085 1351097
Seán Ó hArgáin, PRO: 087 4192322

(Gaeilge) Ag glaoch ar Dhamhsóirí, ar Cheoltóirí agus ar Chóracha na hÉireann le páirt a ghlacadh i gComórtais Idirnáisiúnta Pan Cheilteach 2018

February 13, 2018

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