Two Irish language schools being lined up to join state controlled sector
October 17, 2016
TWO Irish language schools are being lined up to join the sector traditionally associated with non-Catholic education.
Schools in south Derry and Belfast are working with officials with a view to transforming to state-controlled status.
Discussions are at an early stage but should the plans be approved it will double the number of inter-denominational state controlled Irish-medium primary schools.
Irish-medium schools are often perceived to be Catholic, but are non-denominational.
The majority of children that attend are Catholic, however, schools including Gaelscoil an Chaistil in Ballycastle almost have as many `other/no religion’ pupils as those who identify as Catholic.
Only two Irish-medium providers have made the switch to the state sector, which mostly funds non-Catholic education.
The first, in 2004, was Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain in Belfast. It was followed in 2012 by Gaelscoil Neachtain in Dungiven.
The Department of Education told the Irish News that the two schools considering a move at present were Scoil an Droichid in Belfast and Gaelscoil na tSeanchaí in Magherafelt.
Numbers at Gaelscoil na tSeanchaí have spiralled since 2011 when it had just 25 pupils. Last year, 125 were enrolled.
Pupil numbers at Scoil an Droichid are also strong – it had 157 children last year.
The school was one of 15 told in 2014 that it would benefit from a £170 million investment in new buildings. In addition, it was one of two Irish schools that won a fight for funding to host `nurture’ units for children at risk of falling behind.
A department spokeswoman said under the relevant legislation, it would be for the Education Authority (EA) to bring forward development proposals to have the two schools recognised as controlled.
“The department understands that the EA is working with each school to prepare a robust case for change to support the publication of a development proposal,” she said.
“If the EA is satisfied that the case can be made then it will commence the statutory pre-publication consultation following which a development proposal will be published and a two month consultation period will commence.”
(Gaeilge) Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh presents €630 to CF Ireland
October 17, 2016
(Gaeilge) Polasaí oideachais Gaeltachta pléite leis an Taoiseach, ach níl aon phingin dá fheidhmú sa Bhuiséad
October 17, 2016
Irish language school in legal action against minister after building plan put on hold
October 17, 2016
BUDGET FAILS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
October 12, 2016
Tuesday 11 October 2016
Press Release of the Association of Childhood Professionals
Budget 2017 was a missed opportunity to avert the funding crisis that is currently stalking early childhood education and care provision.
The key priority in Budget 2017 should have been investment in frontline services to enable them to deliver high quality supports to young children and parents. In this respect the budget measures revealed today were a complete failure.
The government’s vision for Ireland to be one of the best small countries in the world in which to grow up and raise a family was not evident as required investment failed to materialise.
Current regulatory requirements mean that it is really expensive to provide high quality early education and care. Parents cannot afford this high cost but in the absence of substantial investment the shortfall is being supplemented through the poor pay and conditions of both early childhood providers and their employees.
With an average wage of little more than €10 per hour many in the early years workforce exist in relative poverty. There is a staffing crisis that is beginning to impact on the level of provision that is available to parents as the poor pay and conditions provide little incentive for the workforce to remain or to attract new entrants
The failure of the government to increase capitation levels means that the poor conditions within the profession remain and centres will continue to close. Obviously this will impact on the government’s capacity to deliver on promises made in Budget 2017.
The 1.4 weeks of non-contact time is a welcome development as it is a recognition that 15 hours of delivery requires additional time to plan, implement, review, document; engage with parents, multidisciplinary teams, inspectorates, mentors, compliance audits; cleaning and maintenance; administration; staff meetings; CPD; etc. However in the absence of substantial investment this gesture smacks of tokenism to a profession that has long been neglected and exploited.
The inclusion of the Affordable Childcare Scheme is a welcome measure for parents and children however members of the early years profession have little confidence that the funds allocated for this will be sufficient to cover the full costs of provision and remove them from relative poverty
Further information: Marian Quinn, Chairperson, Association of Childhood Professionals: The professional body representing practitioners in early years and school age care and education
086 1984431
(Gaeilge) ‘Dearcadh úr’ ag teastáil ón Roinn Oideachais maidir le maoiniú Gaelscoileanna – an tAire Oideachais
October 6, 2016
Gaelscoil pupils in Cork take Mandarin Chinese lessons
October 3, 2016
A groundbreaking language programme launched yesterday in a Cork school will see Mandarin Chinese being taught formally to senior students.
Aimed at fifth and sixth- class pupils of Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers in Farranferris, on the city’s northside, it is the first formal Chinese language pilot programme of its kind in an Irish primary school.
A second Cork Gaelscoil, on the southside of the city, is expected to be included in the programme within a few weeks.
Spanish — the second- most spoken language in the world — is already being taught to its fifth- and sixth- class pupils.
The school’s board of management approached UCC — home to a Confucius Institute and an Irish Institute of Chinese Studies — to devise a Chinese language programme.
The course launched yesterday will be taught at the Gaelscoil over the next two years by up to 12 visiting Chinese students who are studying for their Masters degree in UCC.
The Gaelscoil children will be taught to speak a language used by more than 1bn people, plus some of the basics of the complex written language. They will each receive certificates at the end of the course.
“As a Gaelscoil we are great believers in languages and immersion education,” said school principal Adrian Breathnach.
“We made this decision as a board of management because Mandarin is now the number-one most spoken language in the world, with over 1bn people speaking it.
“Our Government has also recognised China as a strong emerging economy and greater trade links between the two countries have been forged.
“We see it as a language of the future.”
Mandarin Chinese grammar is considered relatively simple, with no verb conjugation and the tenses expressed by using time phrases such as ‘tomorrow, yesterday, in the future’.
There are also no gender- specific nouns and no need to distinguish between singular and plural nouns.
See video here
Approval given for statutory Irish-medium nursery unit at Gaelscoil Éanna
September 20, 2016
Education Minister, Peter Weir, has approved a Development Proposal for the establishment of a statutory Irish-medium nursery unit at Gaelscoil Éanna, Glengormley.
The proposal, as published, was to provide 26 full-time places. However, in line with the Department’s moratorium on any new or additional full-time pre-school provision, the proposal has been modified to provide 26 part-time places.
Commenting on his decision the Minister said:
“Gaelscoil Éanna is an established and sustainable Irish-medium primary school in Glengormley. Numbers in the existing non-statutory pre-school suggest that the proposed level of provision would also be sustainable. Taking account of all the information provided, I have concluded that the evidence supports the establishment of a statutory part-time Irish-medium nursery unit at Gaelscoil Éanna.”
In conclusion the Minister said:
“Whilst the Department is committed to providing a pre-school place for each child in their immediate pre-school year, research has shown that there is no discernible benefit to children of a longer daily pre-school session. In this instance I have therefore amended the proposal and have given approval for the establishment of a 26 place part-time unit.”
www.education-ni.gov.uk
Gaelscoil to submit plans for £2.3 million new school
September 20, 2016
TWO years from now, the pupils of Gaelscoil na gCrann will have moved into a brand new £2.3 million school.
The design is complete, funding allocated and the planning application is ready to be submitted next week.
With a swift and positive decision, the construction team will be on location in January 2017 with an estimated 60 week build time ahead of the opening in September 2018.
While tenders for the main contractor will officially open on October 17, the Killyclogher-based Irish
medium school has already received 14 expressions of interest for the contract.
The plans to develop a new school were revealed at a public engagement event held at Dun Uladh last Thursday.
They include a single-storey seven classroom primary school and single unit nursery on a 2.2 hectare greenfield site nearby to replace the existing Gaelscoil na gCrann and Naiscoil na gCrann.
Currently the award-winning school operates out of mobile classrooms adjacent to the Dun Uladh Culture and Heritage Centre.
The proposed new school site is located south-east to the junction of Farmhill Road and Drumnakilly Road approximately 30 metres south of the existing school grounds.
Board of Governors chairperson Julie Gallagher highlighted that they are the “fastest growing school in the Omagh area”.
With another intake of 25 pupils into P1 and an oversubscribed Naiscoil, they will have enrolment numbers of up to 175 in the new school building.
Julie is looking forward to a bright future in state-of-the-art new surroundings that should allow them to enhance the academic and cultural provisions for the pupils.
This includes having its own kitchen and canteen.
The design also includes separate junior and senior play areas and an innovative traffic management programme for pupils to be dropped off and collected.
Julie, who is also the ‘senior responsible owner’ for the construction project said, “The school has been open for ten very successful and fruitful years now, and these plans ensure a vibrant future.
“The staff and pupils have flourished and excelled in the existing surroundings, but this new building will provide the facilities their commitment and effort over the years so richly deserve.
“The next step for our management committee would then be to provide a secondary school option in the Omagh area.”
Gaelscoil principal Deirdre Uí Cheallaigh spoke of the “great buzz and excitement among the entire school community” about the plans for the future as they also celebrate their 10th anniversary year.
Long-standing Board of Governors member and Gaelscoil trustee Brian McKenna is delighted these plans are now coming to fruition.
He said, “We have been talking about this new school building for many years now.
“To now be at this stage when it is becoming a reality is a fitting testament to all the staff, pupils and parents who have shown such faith, support and dedication over the past ten years.
www.ulsterherald.com
(Gaeilge) Seoladh Leabhair: Ceol Leat! Amhráin agus rannta do pháistí óga.
September 20, 2016
