Áiseanna Gaeilge ar iTunes
February 23, 2012
A Rá ar an Raidió
February 23, 2012
Máirt na hInide i Scoil Aonghusa, Droichead Átha.
February 23, 2012
Rás UCD 2012-Dé Sathairn 25 Feabhra 12pm, Rith 5K ar Champus Belfield
February 21, 2012
Win €1000 worth of Books for your School Library!
February 21, 2012
Details here – World Book Day Competition
Seimineáir Inseirbhíse ar Fhorbairt na Matamaitice sa Chóras Tumoideachais
February 21, 2012
Controversy over new school plan
February 21, 2012
Sir, –
In north Kildare, the decision by the parents of more than 1,600 students attending Gaelscoileanna, that their children should continue their education through the medium of Irish, has been dismissed by the Department of Education.
The founding committee or an Coiste Bunaithe has applied twice to the Department of Education in the last five years to establish a Gaelcholáiste or Irish medium secondary school. The application has been rejected on both occasions.
On announcing plans to build a new school in Maynooth in June 2012, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said the criteria used in deciding on patronage would place a particular emphasis on: “parental demand for plurality and diversity”.
“Parental preferences should be at the centre of considerations about the type of school to be recognised.” Expressions of interest in the new school by patronage bodies was accepted by the department up until February 17th, 2012 and the closing date for applications is February 24th.
An Foras Pátrúnachta submitted an expression of interest on behalf of the parents to the department before the due date.
Expressions of interest currently posted on the department website consist of Co Kildare VEC and the Loreto Education Trust.
The reason given by the department for the exclusion of An Foras application for a Gaelcholáiste was that a third application would confuse the people of north Kildare.
The parents of children attending Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich, Maynooth, Scoil Uí Dhálaigh, Leixlip, Scoil Uí Riada, Kilcock and Gaelscoil na nÓg, Dunboyne are furious that their wish to have their children continue their education through the medium of Irish should be dismissed in such an unjust manner.
We demand that the Minister for Education explain why the department is so dismissive of parental rights and why is he opposed to a Gaelcholáiste in Maynooth.
– Is mise,
COLM Ó CEARÚIL,
Oifigeach Caidrimh Phoiblí,
An Coiste Bunaithe,
Gael-Choláiste,
Chill Dara Thuaidh,
Maigh Nuad,
Co Chill Dara.
IRISH TIMES
FF criticises motion to ‘downgrade’ Irish
February 21, 2012
FF criticises motion to ‘downgrade’ Irish
A resolution passed at the 2012 Young Fine Gael national conference in Tullamore calling for the removal of Irish as a compulsory subject in the Leaving Certificate has been criticised by Fianna Fáil.
The motion, proposed by Young Fine Gael’s Wexford branch, called on Fine Gael “to live up to its election promise and remove Irish as a compulsory subject”.
Fianna Fáil spokesman on justice Dara Calleary said the policy “to downgrade Irish was not helpful”.
IRISH TIMES
A simple formula for education
February 21, 2012
A chara, –
In correctly praising Finland’s education system, Ivan Yates (Opinion February 2012) neglects to mention that “compulsory” Finnish and Swedish are central to primary and post-primary education there. Students are also expected to, and do, learn two additional languages.
He also gets into trouble when he asserts “the critical competitive advantage of having a natural English-speaking workforce”. What we need is the critical competitive advantage of having a multi-lingual workforce in order to forge economic, diplomatic and cultural links with the rest of the world. Multinational companies here often cannot fill vacancies with Irish people because of an “English only” mentality, which has become a hallmark of the Department of Education.
A people with little regard for their own language are unlikely to respect the languages of others. Irish people, according to the European Commission, are the lowest achievers in second and third language acquisition.
Irish medium schools buck this trend.
If we are to follow the Finnish model, a model born out of post war austerity, we need to reverse decades of neglect and invest in language teaching and learning. The Finns after centuries of foreign rule have revived their language and their economy and we can do the same.
– Is mise,
DÁITHÍ Mac CÁRTHAIGH BL,
An Leabharlann Dlí,
Na Ceithre Cúirteanna,
Baile Átha Cliath 7.
IRISH TIMES
National protest to protect small schools
February 21, 2012
Thousands of people will gather around the country this week in opposition to the cuts to small schools proposed in the December’s Budget.
Two national days of protest against the cuts have been organsied by the various organisations involved and are due to take place this week.
Members of DEIS schools will gather at the Dáil at 3.30 pm on Thursday, 23rd February. A large group is expected on the day in addition to several other protests by DEIS schools that will take place around the country.
The second day of protests will occur on Saturday, 25th February and is being organised by the Save Our Small Schools campaign and various branches of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO). Save Our Small Schools has established many groups throughout the country in recent times, as a result of the proposed cuts and crowds are expected to gather in Kerry, Clare, Waterford, Donegal and Galway on the day. 150 schools and 3000 people are expected to take to the streets of Castlebar on Saturday where the group will march on the constituency office of An Taoiseach to demonstrate their opposition to the proposed cuts.
Branches of the INTO will march around the country on Saturday including Craobh an Earagail in Gaoth Dobhair. They will gather at An Screabán (the office of Roinn na Gaeltachta) at midday and they are urging members of all local schools, boards of management, parents and staff to join them on the day.
The cuts proposed in last December’s Budget will result in the number of pupils required for a four-teacher school increasing from 81 to 83 students. For Gaeltacht schools, the number would raise from 76 to 86 by 2014, a hike that will require 10 extra pupils for each Gaeltacht school to preserve their four-teacher status.
GAELPORT
