Concerns over Gaelscoil representation in Government surveys
January 29, 2013
Significant steps were taken over the past month in the divestment of primary schools from the Catholic Church in 44 areas.
Parents in Kildare received good news two weeks ago when it was announced that a new Gaelscoil would open in the area at the end of the year, however Irish language organisations and patronage body An Foras Pátrúnachta are concerned about representation in surveys that have been distributed until now.
Surveys which were distributed in five areas before Christmas showed that 4-10% of parents were looking for a change in primary school patronage in their area. It was also clear that a large percentage of parents in those areas did not partake in the surveys at all which presents the risk of the public not being properly represented in the survey results.
Minister Ruairí Quinn recently launched primary school patronage surveys in 38 more areas countrywide. There is currently no access to a Gaelscoil in 9 of those areas – Passage West, Roscrea, Birr, Kells, New Ross, Skerries, Mulhuddard, Portmarnock Ballyfermot/ Chapelizod/ Palmerstown.
However it is uncertain whether the Minister believes that any further announcements of school openings is to follow the surveys, due to the stable nature of the population in some of the more rural areas. Minister Quinn did hint that more negotiations might take place to divest current schools from the patronage of the Catholic Church, depending on the outcome of the surveys.
Irish Language organisations are urging parents in these areas to take part in the surveys and for those who wish to send their children to a gaelscoil to show support for An Foras Pátrúnachta.
It is crucial that parents are aware that Irish language education can be made available to their children if there is a demand for it and that religious belief is not the only topic in the surveys.
All surveys must be submitted before 8 February 2013. All information on the reform in patronage can be found at www.foras.ie and an electronic copy of the survey can be found on www.education.ie.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport
Meeting on new gaelscoil held in Kildare town
January 29, 2013
More than 50 people attended a meeting last Thursday in the Kildare Education Centre to discuss the establishment of a new gaelscoil in the area.
The meeting follows an announcement by the Minister For Education that a new gaelscoil will be established in Kildare town next September.
Seán de Paor, the principal of Gaelscoil Chill Dara attended and spoke at the meeting.
He explained that with 25% of pupils at Gaelscoil Chill Dara coming from the Kildare town, Monasterevin and Rathangan area, there was no shortage of demand for the service that gaelscoils provide in the Kildare area.
Gaelscoil Chill Dara, which is on the Green Road, Newbridge, is, he explained, over subscribed, and has been for some years.
Gaelscoil Chill Dara welcomes the development of the new school and wishes it every success, Mr. de Paor added.
Caoimhín ó Heaghra, a representative for an Foras Pátrúnachta, the patron of many of Ireland’s gaelscoils also spoke at the meeting, and explained that with the new school due to open in September, it’s expected that a principal will be appointed by June of this year.
As yet, while several are being considered, no site has been picked for the new school.
The new school will be multi-denominational.
LEINSTER LEADER
Survey on school patronage
January 28, 2013
Sir, – I am happy to clarify that Alan Whelan’s preferences (January 24th) will be taken into account – along with the views of every other parent of 0-12-year-old children in each town covered by the primary school patronage survey who fills in the survey at www.education.ie.
It is open to either or both parents or guardians using their PPS numbers to complete the survey and to express their preferences regarding choice of school patron.
All preferences expressed by either parent or guardian will be counted and validated. However, t he number and age of children associated with each preference will be validated against the PPS number of the parent or guardian in receipt of child benefit.
I hope more parents will follow Mr Whelan’s lead and take the time to express their preferences on who they wish to see running their primary schools before the closing date of February 8th.
– Yours, etc,
DEIRDRE GRANT,
Director of Communications, Department of Education, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1.
www.irishtimes.com
My wife can vote on school patronage issue, but I can’t
January 28, 2013
Niall Murray’s (Jan 22) news report of Professor Eamonn Conway’s accurate assessment that few parents want a change of school patronage deserves further analysis.
As a parent, who voted in the Killarney survey, I was dismayed to learn from Department officials that my vote would not be counted because it is my wife who receives child benefit.
Only half of parents, those in receipt of child benefit, have a right to vote. I was more dismayed to learn that the Department has concocted a protocol that forbids any formal meetings of parents to debate the merits of Education Minister Ruairi Quinn’s very radical proposals for the Catholic Church to surrender 50% of its schools to other patrons.
I fear that democracy is dead.
Alan Whelan
Beaufort, Co Kerry
www.irishexaminer.com
Education suffering ‘death by initiative’
January 28, 2013
The quality of primary education is being undermined by reform initiatives from the Department of Education, a school leader has claimed.
Seán Cottrell, director of the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN), said the system was suffering from “death by initiative”. Over the years, he told delegates to the IPPN conference in Dublin, principals had been bombarded by initiatives.
“It is obvious from their nature that they are ad hoc and reactionary because there is a lack of an overall vision for Irish education.” He said there was a gross imbalance between management capacity in schools and the expectations of the Department of Education.
“To resolve this imbalance, the department must prioritise funding for skilled administrators, provide a minimum of one non-contact day per week for the leadership and management role of teaching principals and reinstate in-school management posts,” he said.
Key strategies He said Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn should adopt three key strategies if he “genuinely wants to make primary education a priority for this Government”: First, no more new initiatives unless schools are provided with the necessary capacity to manage their implementation. “We have superb teachers – allow them teach.”
Second, give principals administrative back-up so they can fulfil their function of leading the quality of learning. Finally, trust principals: give them the resources to run schools and harness their capacity to lead.
Mr Quinn was unable to attend the conference for personal reasons. His address was read by Seán Ó Foghlú, secretary general of the Department of Education.
Mr Ó Foghlú said the latest international rankings indicated Ireland was performing better than most countries, especially in literacy, but there was still “some work to do if we want to join the ranks of the best performing countries in the world. That must be our ambition”.
On school patronage, he said existing patrons, and most notably the Catholic Church, would have six months to respond to the results of parental surveys on their preferred school options, currently under way.
In his address, Mr Cottrell said it was fine to compare standards in different countries. “But let’s also compare t he support schools have …Minister, can you imagine the impact on your department if you lost half of your assistant secretaries, half of your principal officers and half of your advisers?”
www.irishtimes.com
Coláiste Sheosaimh mid-term and summer courses now enrolling
January 25, 2013
Bunaíodh Coláiste Sheosaimh i 1960 agus eagraítear Cúrsaí Gaeilge rathúla gach bliain ó shin. Coláiste Sheosaimh is situated about 40 miles west of Galway city.
Since it was first established in 1960 the college has run very successful Irish courses from its two centres in Cárna (Junior College) and Cill Chiaráin (Senior College). The morning classes have been fully revised and restructured to put increased emphasis on oral work in line with the new school curriculum.
An intensive revision course will be held for Higher Level Irish Leaving Cert students during the February mid-term (Feb 8-12). The €350 fee includes full-board accommodation, transport and tuition on all aspects of the Leaving Cert exam – oral, aural and written.
There is also availability on the three-week summer courses running from June 30 to July 21 and July 21 to August 11. The €880 fee includes full board accommodation, transport and tuition. Organisers find that students enjoy their experience both in the college and in its surrounding area.
Is féidir tuilleadh eolais a fháil ó Alma Ní Fhreathaile ar 087 737 6981 nó tabhair cuairt ar an suíomh idirlín www.colaistesheosaimh.com.
http://www.advertiser.ie/mayo.
Aitheantas á lorg don phobal
January 24, 2013
COGG le feidhmiú trí Bhéarla?
January 23, 2013
Tógáil páistí le Gaeilge le plé ag Tóstal
January 23, 2013
Seven years of success for Réalt Uladh competition
January 22, 2013
One of the most successful Irish language competitions for national school students will be held once again this year at the LYIT premises in Letterkenny.
There is no doubt that, once again, hundreds of pre-school and national school students will apply for the much sought after trophies and medals that the competition has now become synonymous with.
Now enjoying its seventh consecutive year, Réalt Uladh will take place on Saturday March 2 and to date there has seen a fantastic turn out of schools from all across Donegal, Derry, Antrim and Tyrone in these competitions.
“Without a doubt, our acknowledgement, sincere thanks and congratulations must go to all of the parents, teachers etc who help prepare the children and young people, so magnificently, for their competitions. They are enriching our culture, music and heritage, by keeping spoken Irish alive” said Caitlín Conluain, Stiúrthóir Réalt Uladh.
Réalt Uladh, consists of thirty competitions, which cover the full spectrum of, poetry recitation, reading, writing, drama and singing. The competitions are through the medium of Irish, which are open to children and young people, of all abilities (bun-ghrád and ard-ghrád), from pre-school to sixth class. The aims of Réalt Uladh are to provide children with the opportunity to improve their Irish, give them the confidence to speak Irish, to obtain fluency in our national language and to experience the diverse aspects of Irish culture.
A certificate will be awarded to each competitor, a 1st, 2nd, 3rd place medal in solo and duet competitions, a trophy will be awarded to group performance. The perpetual cup will be awarded to the best performer in each category. A perpetual cup will be awarded to the Teacher/Leader who has the most entries in any one class in any one competition. A perpetual cup will also be awarded to the School/Group that has the most entries in Réalt Uladh 2013.
Our heartfelt thanks go to all of the sponsor’s for helping to make Réalt Uladh such a tremendous success.
For further information or to download a Réalt Uladh 2013 Entry Form log on to: www.realtuladh.com or contact Caitlín at: caitlin.conluain@lyit.ie or at 087-3232326.
The closing date is Saturday 2 February 2013 for all entries including postal and e-mail entries.
Réalt Uladh Office will also be open on Friday 1 Feb. 2013 from 3.00-7.00 pm in the LYIT to take entries or queries. The entry fee is €3.00 per competition to be paid with the entry form. Cheques should be made payable to Réalt Uladh. For group entry fees, please check www.realtuladh.com No late entries will be accepted.
Everybody is welcome to attend and listen to the competitors.
www.donegaldemocrat.ie
