School board sacked for enrolling extra class without approval
February 13, 2013
A primary school board has been sacked by its patron for enrolling an extra infant class last September without approval.
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn approved the dissolution by An Foras Pátrúnachta of the board of management at Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil in Glanmire, Co Cork, before Christmas. The all-Irish schools’ patron body has put two managers in place in the meantime but plans are being made to put a new board in place shortly.
The school moved from the rugby club where it first opened in 2006 to a former hotel building in Dunkettle 2011. But a board decision early last year to take in three infant classes in September was made without the patron’s approval.
It did not have sanction either from the Department of Education to change from a previous intake of two junior infant classes to three, as it would not need to pay an additional teacher if the extra 20 to 30 children were enrolled instead across other schools in the area. The department confirmed it had discussions last year with the school, which now has around 300 pupils up to fifth class.
“The school were advised that, based on the department’s analysis of pupil numbers in the Riverstown/Glanmire catchment area, there was sufficient school accommodation capacity available to cater for pupil place demand. In that regard, the school authority accepted that the long-term size of the school should remain at 16 classes,” a spokesperson told the Irish Examiner.
The possibility of appeals over refusal to enrol meant the three classes were allowed enrol last autumn, but the patron body asked each board member in July for an explanation of their role.
It is understood Mr Quinn approved the board’s dissolution in November following a request from An Foras, under a section of the 1998 Education Act that can be used where a patron believes a board is not discharging its functions effectively. An Foras Pátrúnachta did not comment on the situation when contacted by the Irish Examiner yesterday.
Aside from the enrolment issue, there were longer-running tensions between the board and patron body over the teaching of religion. An Foras said its multi-denominational ethos means no faith-specific religion should be taught during school hours, but children of different faiths were being taught separately for the first 20 minutes of each day since the school opened in 2006.
The patron called a halt to this in late 2011, despite the arguments of the board and many staff and parents that the established practice should be allowed continue.
“We told the Foras last year we wanted things to stay the same. It was operating fine until this happened out of the blue at the end of 2011,” said one parent who asked not to be named.
The teaching of denominational religion during school hours is now forbidden, but Catholic and Humanist teaching is available before or after school for parents who want it for their children.
www.irishexaminer.com
Ceisteanna bunúsacha le freagairt faoin ‘táirge den scoth’
February 13, 2013
The talk of education
February 13, 2013
There is growing anger among student teachers about new charges for Irish courses in the Gaeltacht.
Students are required to attend a three-week language course in first and second year. In the past, the courses were subsidised but this has been withdrawn, leaving students to pick up the cost, estimated at about €1,500.
A wider question is whether student teachers should be obliged to have a C3 or better in higher-level Irish in the Leaving Cert.
Aodhán Ó Riordáin (above) of the Labour Party says the the requirement for “honours Irish” effectively acts as a barrier to poorer students who aspire to become primary school teachers.
DEIS secondary schools, he says, are rarely in the position to offer higher-level Irish for their students. And poorer families do not have the resources to pay for grinds or to send their children to the Gaeltacht on summer courses. His comments merit discussion. But who is brave enough to run with them and risk the wrath of the immensely powerful Irish-language lobby?
IRISH TIMES
Agallaimh do Ghaelscoil Cholmcille i mBaile Átha Cliath
February 8, 2013
New Gaelic school planned for Glasgow
February 8, 2013
A NEW Gaelic school is to be created in Glasgow following an £800,000 investment from the Scottish Government.
The primary school will be part of the existing Glendale Campus in Pollokshields. Alastair Allan, the minister for learning, said:
“The continued increase in demand for Gaelic medium education in Glasgow clearly demonstrates that parents are not only recognising the impressive learning benefits that come with a bilingual education, but that we are securing a sustainable and vibrant future for the language in future generations.
“I am delighted to announce this latest funding and look forward to work beginning on the school to create an environment that will inspire pupils and school staff throughout their time there.”
Glasgow’s first Gaelic school, at Woodside, opened in August 2006. Councillor Stephen Curran added: “This money is very welcome.
“Along with investment from Glasgow City Council the provision will create opportunities for over 200 Gaelic speaking pupils and the new school will help provide progression for teachers in Gaelic medium education by extending their prospects in the city and alleviate the pressure on the Woodside campus.”
www.scotsman.com
Éacht Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin
February 7, 2013
10,000 Gaeilge speakers: Dungannon undergoes an Irish renaissance
February 7, 2013
Use of the Irish language in the Dungannon District is rocketing due to the impassioned work of teachers, educationalists amateur enthusiasts and politicians, it has emerged.
The native language is in such fine fettle that the Dungannon district now boasts the second highest proportion of Irish speakers in Northern Ireland. Almost one in five local people claim to speak some Irish (18 percent), second only to the Newry and Mourne District at 20%.
The extent of the language renaissance was revealed in the latest data released from the 2011 Census.
A total of 10,050 Dungannon residents said they had some ability in Irish.
Language campaigners now believe that the creation of Irish language communities in the local district might be a possibility in the future.
Dungannon Council’s Irish Language Officer Seamus Kilpatrick said there had been an enormous shift in attitudes since the last census in 2001.
The Good Friday Agreement has led to a raft of measures to promote the Irish language, as well as a sea-change in the way Irish is taught in local schools.
Irish medium education in the Dungannon District has also been a big success.
However, hostility to the Irish language still remains.
Last October, DUP politicians accused the council of sending a very bad signal for the Unionist community, after it emerged that a receptionist was greeting callers with “Dia Duit”, Lord Maurice Morrow said he had been contacted by members of the public who had been answered in Irish when contacting the council.
“I immediately contacted the council for a response and it appears a member of staff took the liberty of addressing callers in Irish, which of course, is not council policy.
“I have been assured this matter has been duly noted. However, this sort of behaviour throws out a very bad signal for the Unionist/Protestant community, who represent over 40% of the borough population.”
It emerged that the receptionist in question was Irish-speaking and had decided to do this on his own initiative.
http://www.tyronetimes.co.uk/
Foclóir Béarla-Gaeilge nua seolta
January 31, 2013
Gradam idirnáisiúnta aistriúcháin buaite ag bean Bhaile Átha Cliath
January 30, 2013
‘Beart de réir briathair
January 30, 2013
