(Gaeilge) Ilteangachas sna Luathbhlianta – Comhdháil ar an 18-19 Bealtaine
March 8, 2017
(Gaeilge) Imní ar scoileanna Gaeltachta maidir le ráiteas na Roinne i leith soláthar múinteoirí d’fheidhmiú an Pholasaí Oideachas Gaeltachta
February 15, 2017
(Gaeilge) Eolas tábhachtach de dhíth maidir le próiseas iontrála bunscoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge & Gaeltachta
February 15, 2017
Clear evidence of inclusive makeup of Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools in Department’s DEIS decisions
February 15, 2017
This week’s announcement by the Department of Education & Skills on the granting and extension of disadvantaged status to DEIS schools gives the lie to the assertion that Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht schools are in any way elitist in their intake of pupils, according to Gaeloideachas, the national organisation of Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools. 74 Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools are now recognised as DEIS schools, meaning that one in five are providing for a majority of students at risk of educational disadvantage. The schools have been granted DEIS status by the Department of Education & Skills as part of the publication of the DEIS Plan 2017.
Yvonne Ní Mhurchú, President of Gaeloideachas, has welcomed this announcement and said “It is now time that the evidence provided in the Department’s decisions are reflected in the public debate on the admission policies of all our schools. The fact that over a fifth of our schools are officially recognised as disadvantaged means that our schools, teachers, parents and children are entitled to fairness in what is becoming an often deeply unfair public commentary. Any pretence that our schools are in any way elitist in their student intake policies should now be dropped and recognition given that in fact we have a range of schools across all socio-economic groups in every city, large town and rural part of the country.
While a number of Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools were receiving additional support since 2006, there were other schools that fell outside the criteria despite the complex needs of their communities, and as a result were not granted formal DEIS recognition. Those schools have now been recognised by the Department as DEIS Band 1 schools, and other schools previously recognised as DEIS Band 2 in 2006 have now also been granted DEIS Band 1 status. The additional supports now available to these schools will be of huge benefit to their students”.
Some Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools, however, are very unhappy not to have been granted DEIS recognition, despite applying on basis of significant challenges and needs within their communities. Those schools are anxious to have the criteria for selection clarified, and to know why they have not been granted recognition. Pól Ó Ruiséal, Principal of Scoil Rann na Feirste, was surprised and disappointed that the school was not granted DEIS recognition this year. “The method of selection used by the Department of Education for this Scheme is unfair” he said, “they’re ignoring the needs of schools teaching through the medium of Irish”. Ó Ruiséal is concerned that parents will not be willing to enrol their children in schools that do not have DEIS status because of the additional costs they will incur as parents. If parents were to choose schools on the basis of DEIS status, irrespective of the school’s language ethos, there could be serious implications for the long-term viability of some Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools.
22% of Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools now have DEIS status. Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, the CEO of Gaeloideachas, said “Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools are open, inclusive and supportive communities, providing for diversity. Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools welcome children and young people from every kind of linguistic, cultural and socioeconomic background. It is so important that the advantages of Irish-medium education are made available to those threatened by educational disadvantage, and that we give them every opportunity to achieve their potential and to be safe and happy in school”.
Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools granted DEIS recognition in 2017:
1. Gaelscoil Bharra
2. Gaelscoil Dara
3. Gaelscoil an Longfoirt
4. Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch (previously held DEIS Band 2 status)
5. Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna (previously held DEIS Band 2 status)
6. SN Éadan Fhionnlaoich
7. SN Cholmcille, Baile na Finne
8. SN an Ghlasáin
9. SN Mhuire, Fanaid
10. SN Inbhear
11. Gaelcholáiste Mhuire
12. Coláiste de hÍde, Tamhlacht
(Gaeilge) Oiliúint do bhoird bainistíochta bunscoile agus iarbhunscoile maidir le Frithbhulaíocht
February 14, 2017
Gaeloideachas statement on the divestment of patronage and provision for Irish-medium education
February 1, 2017
It was announced on the 30th of January that the Department of Education & Skills have a new plan to accelerate provision of multi- and non-denominational schools through divestment of patronage. The Minister’s statement can be read on the Department of Education & Skills website: https://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/Press-Releases/2017-Press-Releases/PR17-01-30.html
Gaeloideachas welcomes the Minister’s commitment to progress regarding the divestment process. We recognise that it will provide Irish-medium schools with the opportunity to consider changes to their school’s patronage, or to their school’s religious ethos under their current patron. We understand that there will be a demand for this amongst Irish-medium schools, which is to be welcomed, and we hope that the divestment process will give schools the conviction and support necessary to make changes when it is clearly the wish of their school community.
Gaeloideachas is worried, however, that those communities who do not have Irish-medium primary education available to them will be neglected. The revised divestment process was not discussed with Education partners, including Gaeloideachas, in advance of the Minister’s statement, and we were given no opportunity to discuss our concerns. Neither assessment of demand for nor the provision of Irish-medium education is evident in the proposed process. This is in spite of provision for Irish-medium education being a primary aim of the divestment process as it was originally conceived.
The ‘live transfer’ approach to divestment outlined in the Minister’s statement is not appropriate when changing the language ethos of a school. It seems unlikely that this new process will allow for additional provision of Irish-medium schools. 30% of Irish-medium schools outside Gaeltacht areas are oversubscribed at present, and there are many areas where children have no access at all to Irish-medium education at primary level. Research published by the Economic and Social Research Institute stated that 23% of people would choose an Irish-medium primary school if there was one available to them, but at present the schools can cater for just 8% of our primary school children. No provision has been made in the proposed process to increase the number of places to meet this demand; children who would attend Irish-medium schools if there was an opportunity for them to are being excluded.
Gaeloideachas has written to the Minister for Education & Skills, Richard Bruton, and to the Secretary General of the Department of Education & Skills, Seán Ó Foghlú, to request urgent consultation with the Education Partners before the revised process is implemented, so that a fair opportunity be given to all to raise concerns about the potential impact of the process on children, parents and schools. Schools are welcome to contact us directly to discuss the implications the process might have for their own school – contact Clare on 01-8535193 or clare@gaelscoileanna.ie.
(Gaeilge) Díospóireachtaí maidir leis an bPolasaí Oideachas Gaeltachta ar Oireachtas.tv
January 20, 2017
(Gaeilge) Teacht le chéile na bPríomhoidí ag an gComhdháil IPPN, 27 Eanáir
January 19, 2017
Irish Language Secondary Education Coming to Sligo in 2017
January 17, 2017
The founding committee of Coláiste Loch Gile, working since 2008, are delighted to announce that the secondary school, Mercy College, Sligo are to open an Irish Language Education Unit for boys and girls in September 2017.
New Era
This is a new era for Irish language education in the North West, and parents whose children attend Gaelscoileanna in Sligo, Liatroim, and South Dún na nGall will be delighted that their children may now continue their education though Irish to Leaving Cert. Pupils who did not attend a Gaelscoil will be very welcome to enrol and it is expected that the demand will be such that in the forthcoming years that an independent Gaelcholáiste will be established.
Praise
The founding committee take this opportunity to praise the efforts of The Mercy College Principal, Colette O’Hagan, the staff and their Board of Management. From the first meeting they revealed a respect, an understanding and dedication to the concept of an Irish Language Unit. After witnessing the amount of preliminary work, energy, dedication and ambition the Mercy college have for this ‘Aonad’ we believe that a very bright future awaits all students who seize the opportunity to attend Mercy College’s Aonad Gaeilge from next September, 2017.
Enrolment Evening
Wednesday January 25th 6-9.00pm in the Mercy College is the date for the Aonad and the Mercy’s own enrolment evening. Parents who have an interest in enrolling their children and those who have pre-enroled are asked to attend that evening.
To ensure an offer of a place for you may pre-enrol by going to www.colaistelochgile.net, click the Pre-enrol button, fill in the spaces and ‘Send’.
We’ll see you on January the 25th.
(Gaeilge) Riarthóir Oifige ag teastáil
January 3, 2017
