‘An Brat Buí’
May 9, 2013
M.Oid. san Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge
May 1, 2013
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 The Department have given notice that the temporary recognition granted to the school, which opened in 2007, is to be rescinded because of low enrolment figures.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
26th April 2013 is the closing date for School Transport applications for 2013/14 school year
April 22, 2013
School Transport Applications for 2013/2014 School Year
Apply online @ www.buseireann.ie
Coláiste Ghlór na Mara – Information night for parents 23.04.2013
April 16, 2013
Dianchúrsa Gaeilge do mhúinteoirí in iar-bhunscoileanna Gaeltachta agus lán-Ghaeilge
April 15, 2013
New educational resources – Placenames Database of Ireland
April 15, 2013
These educational resources are provided as a tool for teachers and students. Placenames are a central part of Irish heritage. We hope that these resources will awaken an interest in them. The resources are in Irish and are printable.
Further information and resources are available to download from www.logainm.ie.
Lobbying needed to protect COGG’s status
April 10, 2013
The Department of Education wish to integrate COGG with the NCCA (The National Council for Curriculum & Assessment) and to locate them in their offices. This would mean that it would be impossible for COGG to do their work through the medium of Irish as they’ve always done. There is a concern that the organisation would lose its independence and that it become simply a sub-division of the NCCA, in particular after the term of the current board is finished in 2014. This would result in a reduced influence from the all-Irish/ Gaeltacht sector on the organisation which would mean that there would be less input from the Irish-medium and Gaeltacht sector into the organisation regarding the sector’s needs. To ensure this doesn’t happen it is particularly important that COGG continues to receive direct funding and that it will be completely in charge of its own budget regarding its programme of work.
As part of the national strategy in promoting the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language Gaelscoileanna Teo. are co-operating with 63 other organisations to defend COGG. It would be of great benefit if you could raise the three issues below with your local TDs for the sake of COGG’s future and for the benefit of Irish-medium education:
1. That COGG’s budget should be ring fenced on a continuous basis (i.e. that the NCCA should have no power over COGG’s budget)
2. That COGG’s independence would be protected and that there is a need for a written agreement from the State regarding this (COGG’s board should not be under the control of the NCCA’s board)
3. That COGG’s office could be a satellite of the NCCA office but that its staff should not be relocated to the NCCA’s offices.
Download the PDF here
More information regarding COGG is available at www.cogg.ie
Minister’s statement on enrolment practices in Irish-medium schools based on inaccurate information
April 5, 2013
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. has expressed disappointment at the statement made by the Minister for Education and Skills on the review of enrolment policies in schools, as reported in the Irish Independent on the 4th of April under the headline “Irish language schools targeted over restrictive entrance rules”. The reported statement alleged restrictive practices in the enrolment process in Irish-medium primary and post-primary schools.
The Minister recently announced that a draft bill is to go before the Oireachtas to legislate for enrolment and entrance policies in all schools. According to the Minister’s statement, the basis of the draft bill will be that, among other things, there will be a single system for every type of school, regardless of the language ethos of the school. The draft bill arises from consultations between the Minister and education partners in 2011, in which GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. took part. The submission made by GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. to the Department of Education and Skills on this matter confirmed that Irish-medium schools have an open and comprehensive system where children from all backgrounds are welcome. The submission recognised the challenge presented by the level of demand for places in some schools, which means that not every child who applies for a place can be given the opportunity to be educated through the medium of Irish. In the case of these schools in particular, the submission recognised the necessity of protecting the language policy and ethos of the school.
The statement reported in the Irish Independent demonstrated a profound misunderstanding of the system. The schools’ practice shows clearly that Irish-medium schools welcome families with all levels of ability in the Irish language as well as families who don’t speak any Irish but who have an interest in the language, a direct contradiction of the Minister’s statement as reported. The president of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO., Máirín Ní Chéileachair, has questioned the research on which the statement was based and she has recommended that “the real cause of the problem be addressed, which is that the availability of school places does not meet demand. If there were sufficient school places to meet the huge demand for Irish-medium education there would not be a need to legislate for this. This legislation will impact on the 30% of Irish-medium primary schools and 20% of Irish-medium post-primary schools that cannot cater for the demand for places in their schools. Instead of increasing provision, a long-term solution that would satisfy the wishes of parents seeking Irish-medium education for their children, the schools are being accused of restrictive practice and elitism.” The same article in the Irish Independent stated incorrectly that there are around 100 Irish-medium post-primary schools in Ireland; there are just 35 in the Republic of Ireland, 5 in Northern Ireland and 21 teaching through Irish in Gaeltacht areas.
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. will continue to consult directly with the Minister, the Department of Education and Skills and public representatives on this matter to ensure that the Irish language and Irish-medium education are fairly represented.
Further information:
Máirín Ní Chéileachair, President, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.
0872861655 | mairinnicheileachair@gmail.com
Nóra Ní Loingsigh, Vice CEO, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.
01 8535191 | nora@gaelscoileanna.ie
