Emergency Meeting to discuss future of COGG
January 15, 2013
An emergency meeting of Irish language and education organisations will take place in Dublin tomorrow to discuss the proposed merger of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.
Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills, Seán Ó Foghlú announced the amalgamation at an Irish-medium education conference on November 23rd 2012.
Since its foundation in 2002, COGG has provided textbooks, posters, Irish language programming and electronic learning materials to Irish-medium schools across the country. It has also funded research in the area of language teaching and immersion education and acts as an advisory body on issues concerning Irish-medium education.
A meeting of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta and Gaelscoileanna, organisations which campaigned for the establishment of the Council, as well An Foras Pátrúnachta and Na Naíonraí Gaelacha will be held to discuss a campaign to support COGG.
The organisations have expressed worry that the role of COGG as an independent agency will be diminished by the merger as well as concerns that the final word on future funding would be made by the NCCA.
The future of COGG has been uncertain since 2009 where Colm McCarthy’s An Bord Snip Nua report recommended that the council be closed. Following the McCarthy report, the Department of Education and Science defended COGG and recommended that it should continue to function as an independent body.
There was some concern that the Bord Snip report failed to take into account the wider functions of COGG in promoting Irish-medium education.
However in the past year the Department has changed its policy and hinted indirectly to representatives of COGG that a merger with the NCCA was on the cards.
No official representations were made to the board or staff of COGG in the interim and it is reported that the organisation was informed of the changes on the day prior to the conference of Gaelscoileanna and Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta in November.
The Department has stated that the merger would ensure that COGG would concentrate its resources on its core functions of providing teaching resources to support the teaching of Irish in tandem with the NCCA’s work on revising the curriculum.
According to Ó Foghlú, “The general administrative functions, which are a considerable burden on a small staff, will now be provided by the NCCA”
Three staff are currently employed by COGG and it is now believed that they would operate as an Irish language unit within the NCCA.
The Department’s planned savings may be scuppered however by the fact that both agencies operate on a daily basis using different languages with COGG conducting all of its business, accounts and administration through the medium of Irish language.
The Department insists that the merger makes sense and will benefit Irish-medium education in the long term. Speaking at the Gaelscoileanna conference Seán Ó Foghlú stated that COGG would preserve its identity under the auspices of the NCCA. “The move will strengthen its ability to support Irish-medium education and the teaching of Irish generally”, he added.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
New Gaelscoil for Kildare, September 2013 & Parental Survey – Press Release from An Foras Pátrúnachta
January 14, 2013
The Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, announced today that a new Gaelscoil is to open in Kildare Town in September of this year. In the same announcement the Minister outlined the commencement of the second phase of the survey of parents on the divestment of schools from the Catholic Church.
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, Ard Rúnaí An Foras Pátrúnachta, stated that ‘ We are delighted for the people of Kildare Town. There is great demand locally for Irish Medium Education which has been illustrated by the waiting lists for the other Irish Medium schools in the area. Ó hEaghra continued ‘An Foras Pátrúnachta are thankful to the Department for looking favourably on our application on behalf of the people of Kildare Town.”
In relation to the divestment of Catholic schools the second phase of the survey on 38 areas around the country is commencing today. The Minister is asking parents in these areas to complete the online survey before the 8th of February 2013. The survey can be accessed on the Department’s website at www.education.ie or all information can be found at www.foras.ie.
Ó hEaghra stated that “this is a great opportunity for parents who would like Irish Medium education in their area. It is important that parents complete the survey and select an Irish Medium School under An Foras Pátrúnachta.” He went on to say that “we believe that every child has a right to Irish Medium Education if they so wish. This is an opportunity for parents to seek this right for their children.”
An Foras Pátrúnachta has been providing diversity and addressing parents wishes since it was founded in 1993. Comprehensive information relating to this process is available at An Foras Pátrúnachta’s website (www.foras.ie) and we will be available to provide information on the benefits of Irish Medium Education, the multi-denominational ethos and about us as a patron.
For media information, contact:
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra:: 01-6294110 :: eolas@foras.ie
Siobhán Seoighe :: 01-6294110 :: eolas@foras.ie
About An Foras Pátrúnachta:
AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA is the largest patron of Irish medium schools in Ireland at both primary and secondary level. There are 61 primary schools and 3 secondary schools under its patronage. AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA is a patron of Irish-medium schools that have a choice of a Catholic, Multidenominational and Interdenominational (Catholic / Protestant) ethos. The vision of AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA is to develop, strengthen and promote education through the medium of Irish throughout the country. AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA is recognized by the Department of Education and Science as a patronage system which is acceptable and appropriate for first and second level schools. AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA was founded in 1993 so that new gaelscoileanna opening in the coming years would have another choice with regard to patronage.
For more information: www.foras.ie
Efforts to boost school patronage poll awareness
January 14, 2013
A wider information campaign is planned to promote a survey of parents on primary school choices after a mixed response to a trial survey before Christmas.
The Department of Education will send leaflets to every home in each of the 38 towns and suburbs where they want to find out how much demand there is for alternatives to the current provision of primary schools almost exclusively under religious patronage.
A more extensive campaign of radio and newspaper advertising is also planned after between 25% and 44% of eligible parents took part in the three-week exercise during November. It resulted in a recommendation that the Catholic bishops in all five areas make one of their local school buildings available for multi-denominational group Educate Together.
The body representing Catholic schools has said turnout was low and claims it means all those who did not take part are satisfied with current arrangements. A spokesperson for Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said participation was quite strong in the context of the low turnout in last year’s children’s referendum. However, the department has been asked to better promote awareness of the surveys by patrons who are interested in taking over Catholic schools, as they are restricted by a code of conduct around the survey to limited publicity spending.
The 38 areas where parents of all children up to the age of 12 are being asked for their views have 311 primary schools between them, or an average of around eight each. But the Department of Education says there are no primary schools in most of them besides those under the control of the local Catholic bishop or other religious patrons, and there is insufficient population growth for new schools to be built.
Kildare town has been removed from the list of areas being surveyed as an Educate Together school opened there in 2011 and a new gaelscoil is to be set up after evidence of demand put forward by all-Irish schools patron An Foras Pátrúnachta.
Both groups expressed interest in taking over any divested Catholic schools in most or all of the 38 remaining areas, with city or county vocational education committees interested in running primary schools in all of them.
Parents in three towns — Clonmel, Longford, and Monaghan — who would like more choice will also have the option of picking Rehab Group’s National Learning Network as an alternative patron. The Redeemed Christian Church of God, a Nigerian-founded church, is interested in running schools in Cobh, Dublin 6, Longford, and Shannon. The survey can be completed on the Department of Education website, or in a paper version on request, from today until Feb 8.
*The survey is online at www.education.ie and parents will need to give a PPS number for verification. A free helpline is also available 1800 303 621.
www.irishexaminer.com
More parents to vote on taking schools from Catholic control
January 14, 2013
PARENTS in 38 more towns and suburbs are being asked to decide whether they want to hand over a Catholic primary school to another patron.
It is part of the historic move to reduce the dominance of the church in primary education. It follows a similar exercise late last year, when parents in five areas voted in favour of greater choice.
As a result, the Catholic Church – which controls over 90pc of the country’s 3,000 primary schools – has been asked to hand over one in each of the five areas to the multi-denominational body, Educate Together, which had most support as an alternative patron.
Parents of all children up to 12 years in the 38 areas, which encompasses 311 schools, are being asked if they want change, and if so, who they would like to see operating their local primary schools.
The 38 towns and suburbs have stable populations and little prospect of any new school opening, so the only way to offer choice is to transfer the patronage of existing schools.
The bodies that have indicated a desire to take over a school in the areas are Vocational Education Committees (VECs), which have developed the Community National School model, the Irish language patron body, An Foras Patrunachta, Educate Together, and, in a small number of areas, the National Learning Network, which deals with pupils with special needs, and the Nigerian-based Redeemed Christian Church of God.
The surveys are going live today on www.education.ie, and will continue until February 8. Paper-based versions of the survey are also available on request. Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said it was “an historic opportunity” for parents to have a real say in the type of school their children attend.
Kildare town has been removed from the original list of areas to be surveyed because it already has an Educate Together school and An Foras Patrunachta will establish a Gaelscoil there next September. The Department of Education will run an information campaign on the issue.
www.independent.ie
School patron survey opens to parents
January 14, 2013
Voters in 38 areas given ‘historic opportunity’ to change patronage
Parents in 38 areas can vote from today for their preferred choice of primary school patron. The survey is designed to establish the level of demand from parents for diversity of school patronage in each of the towns and suburbs. At present, more than 90 per cent or 3,000 schools are under the remit of the Catholic Church. Parents of all children aged 12 and under can participate in the survey; this can be accessed online via education.ie until February 8th.
The survey initiative is in line with the recommendations of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary sector. Last year, there was controversy about the outcome of surveys in the five towns chosen for the initial stage of the process: Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall in Dublin.
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn claimed the results in the pilot areas showed a strong demand for change. However, Fr Michael Drumm of the Catholic Schools Partnership said only a small percentage of parents in some areas favour changes to school patronage. He claimed that only 25 per cent of relevant parents surveyed responded.
Fr Drumm said he could not understand why the Department of Education cannot publish the exact statistic on the percentage of parents who participated. “I think people should look at the real figures. Take Arklow – those who want change are parents of 80 children in a school population of 1,965. That is only 4 per cent .”
If the latest survey backs change, the department will ask existing patrons to come up with a plan to transfer some schools to other patron bodies. The department hopes to begin the process of handing over Catholic-run schools to other patron bodies by September 2014. ‘ Real say’ Mr Quinn said the survey represents a “historic opportunity for parents to have a real say in the type of school they wish to send their children to, be it denominational, multi-denominational, all-Irish or other”.
There are 311 primary schools in the 38 areas which will be surveyed. The bodies which have indicated that they would like to become patrons of any divested schools in the identified areas are the VECs, An Foras Patrúnachta, Educate Together and, in a small number of areas, the National Learning Network and the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
A comprehensive information campaign by the department in each of the areas begins today. Helpline: 1800 303621
www.irishtimes.com
Ógras i gCrois Mhic Lionnáin ag ceilúradh bliana ar an fhód
January 14, 2013
Surveys on primary school patronage rolled out to 38 areas across the country
January 14, 2013
Minister Quinn asks parents to indicate which patron bodies they would like to see running primary schools in their area.
Parents of all children aged 0 to 12 years in 38 areas across Ireland are being asked by the Minister for Education and Skills what patrons they would like to see operating their local primary schools.
Surveys are going live today (Monday 14th January) and are an expansion of pilot surveys on primary school patronage which were conducted late last year in five towns.
The survey can be accessed on line via www.education.ie and parents or guardians of primary school going children and 0 to 5 year olds in the 38 towns and suburbs (list below) are being urged to fill it in. They will need to have their PPS number in order to complete the survey; however, these details are only being used for verification purposes.
The aim of the survey is to establish the level of demand from parents for diversity of school patronage in each of the towns. At present, some 96% of primary schools are under church patronage, with more than 90% or approximately 3,000 schools under the remit of the Catholic Church. This survey initiative follows on from the recommendations of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary sector.
If parents indicate they would like a wider choice of patron, then the Department of Education and Skills (DES) will ask existing patrons to come up with a plan to transfer some schools to other patron bodies.
“This is an historic opportunity for parents to have a real say in the type of school they wish to send their children to, be it denominational, multi-denominational, all-Irish or other,” said Minister Ruairí Quinn T.D.
“In the 38 towns and suburbs where the surveys are taking place, there is little prospect of any new schools opening as the population remains stable and there is enough capacity within existing schools. However, if parents demonstrate through this survey that they want a greater choice of primary school then we will work with existing patrons to transfer patronage to ensure they can send their children to a school which best reflects their own ethos and beliefs.”
The bodies which have indicated that they would like to become patrons of any divested schools in the identified areas are the VECs, An Foras Patrúnachta, Educate Together, and in a small number of areas the National Learning Network and the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Kildare Town has been removed from the original list of areas to be surveyed, following consultation with patrons. The town already has an Educate Together school, opened in September 2011. There was also a recommendation to establish an all-Irish school in the town in coming years. Since then, an Foras Patrúnachta has produced sufficient evidence of demand for an all Irish school in Kildare and the establishment of a Gaelscoil will commence in September 2013.
A code of conduct has been worked out in consultation with the patron bodies which will limit expenditure on the provision of information. The code is designed to ensure the surveys are conducted in a reasonable manner, avoiding contentious commentary.
A comprehensive information campaign by the DES in each of the areas begins today and will include a leaflet drop to every household giving details of the survey and advertising on local radio and newspapers. A free helpline is also available in the Department for anyone who has any difficulties in completing the survey: 1800 303621.
The helpline will be open from 9.30 to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Paper based versions of the survey are also available on request.
The survey process will be overseen by the independent New Schools Establishment Group. The Department will publish detailed reports on the survey outcomes.
Parents and guardians of all 0 to 12 year olds in the 38 towns have from now until the 8th of February to complete the survey at www.education.ie.
List of 38 areas to be surveyed
- Ballina
- Ballinasloe
- Ballyfermot/ Chapelizod/ Palmerstown/ Cherry Orchard
- Bandon
- Birr
- Buncrana
- Carrick-on-Suir
- Carrigaline
- Celbridge
- Clonmel
- Cobh
- Dublin 6
- Dungarvan
- Edenderry
- Enniscorthy
- Fermoy
- Kells (Ceanannas)
- Killarney
- Leixlip
- Longford
- Loughrea
- Malahide
- Monaghan
- Nenagh
- New Ross
- Passage West
- Portmarnock
- Roscommon
- Roscrea
- Rush
- Shannon
- Skerries
- Thurles
- Tipperary
- Tuam
- Westport
- Wicklow
- Youghal
There are 311 primary schools in the 38 areas.
Meeting re new primary school for Stepaside
January 14, 2013
Diary Date for 2013 – there will be a meeting in Sandyford Community Centre at 19.30 on the 14/01/13 about the new Gaelscoil in Stepaside, due to open in September 2013. The meeting is being organised by the school’s patron, An Foras Pátrúnachta, and further information is available here:
- Website: http://www.foras.ie/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AFPatrunachta
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/An-Foras-P%C3%A1tr%C3%BAnachta/185008058242337
- Blog: http://afpatrunachta.wordpress.com/
Éascaitheoir á lorg le tionscnamh ‘Scéal na Gaeilge’ a fhorbairt
January 11, 2013
Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara ar chuairt go Coláiste Feirste
January 11, 2013
