NCCA Announce Full-Time Post
February 2, 2012
The NCCA have announced a full-time post for an Irish Education Officer. This position remains vacant, following the NCCA’s open competition in the Autumn. The original application form and information booklet can be downloaded from the links below.
Anyone who may be interested, can complete the application form and email it to Morgan Lockhart (morgan.lockhart@ncca.ie) by 5pm on Friday, February 24th.
The interviews will be held at the beginning of March.
Queries can be directed to Áine Armstrong Farrell at 067-8680166.
ICT sa Bhunscoil
February 1, 2012
Demonstration outside the Dáil, 6pm, February 1st
February 1, 2012
Small and rural schools are planning a demonstration outside the Dáil on February 1st at 6pm to protest against the cuts announced in the most recent Budget. Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta would be grateful to anyone who has an hour to spare to come to Kildare Street and show their support for the campaign. Further information is available on their Facebook page.
Glór Uachtar Tíre ag neartú na Gaeilge i nDeisceart an Dúin
February 1, 2012
‘Deireadh’ le caint
February 1, 2012
BEO Competition!
January 31, 2012
Win €5,000 worth of computer equipment to help your school run a BEO event and be the school that promotes the best ROCK SHOW in the country!
This year BEO entered a National Innovation competition which allowed them to develop a business plan. This involved developing a website www.beoireland.com to help other schools host similar events and thus the idea of holding a nationwide Comórtas BEO was born. To date BEO have hosted many of Irelands top bands, More Than Conquerors, The Wonder Villains, Dirty 9’s and Scuba Dice to name but a few. What a great experience for any school band to get to perform at a gig where some of these tops bands will be playing.
Every year sees a new pool of talented youth bringing fresh ideas to BEO, coupled with the fact that these new members have the support of veteran BEO members in each of the schools can only see BEO going from strength to strength in the future. The website is a great resource to have for any student thinking of bringing BEO to their school and as mentioned on the site, mentors will be assigned to each school entering the competition. Maybe your school will see the next Jim Aiken emerging.
All details for Comórtas BEO can be found on www.beoireland.com.
The schedule for the competition is as follows:
• Applications to be received by Feb 3rd via the website.
• Each school will prepare a 7 min video of their event to be forwarded to BEO by April 23rd.
• Six finalists will be announced on 27th April. All finalists will receive a grant of €500 to help cover their expenses on the day of the final.
• The final will be held on May 11th at the Regional Cultural Centre with each school having to present their entry to the judging panel. BEO’s first national champions will be announced at a special gig that evening and where winner will be presented with the amazing prize of €5,000 worth of computer equipment for their school.
BEO would like to take this opportunity to thank Donegal County Council and the VEC for their kind sponsorship, without which running Comórtas BEO would not be possible.
The official launch of Comórtas BEO will take place in the Regional Cultural Centre on Thursday 19th January at 2.00 pm.
Speakers on the day include:
- Seosamh Mac Ceallabhuí BEO
- Dessie Larkin Comhairle Contae Dhun na nGall
- Mary Ann Kane Coiste Gairmoideachas Dun na nGall
- Hugh Harkin Donegal Live
- Official launch by Nollaig mac Giolla Bhride Comhairle Contae Dhun na nGall
Bigí linn!
Scoil Santain – Campaign to oppose education cuts gathers pace
January 27, 2012
Photo from the Irish Times
Scoil Santain in Tallaght have been lobbying for some time now to oppose the education cuts that are set to cost their school and many more like it around the country very dearly. Information on their campaign to date is available at the following links:
http://www.scoilsantain.com/scoil-santain-sa-nuacht.html and http://scoilsantainpag.wordpress.com/.
Statement from the group:
The Scoil Santain Parents (SOS) (Save our Schools) Action Group was set up as a result of Minister Ruairí Quinn’s decision to make cuts to the DEIS Schools in Ireland. If DEIS cuts were implemented, this would have an adverse effect on the positive teaching of our children, and undo all the good work achieved under the DEIS status of our school. This would put immense pressure on the teachers resulting in bigger class sizes, and a heavy financial burden on parents/guardians to make up the short fall in funding to compensate for loss of services to our school.
Although there are signs that our campaign has softened Minister Ruairí Quinn’s stance on these cuts, we need to ensure this is the case. Until we are guaranteed DEIS Status, our campaign must continue. Remember this is our right under our Constitution, not a concession that can be taken away.
Mise le meas,
Gearóid O Conaráin
(Scoil Santain Parents Action Group)
Irish Language Instructors 2012 – 2013 Call for Applications
January 27, 2012
The Ireland Canada University Foundation offers an annual programme of scholarly exchange awards open to all academic disciplines, between the universities of Canada and Ireland. Founded in 1994 by Dr. Craig Dobbin of Newfoundland and Dr. Patrick Hillery, former President of Ireland, the Foundation was formally recognised in a 2004 Memorandum Of Understanding between the governments of Canada and Ireland.
With funding from the National Lottery and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Foundation provides scholarly awards designed to support the teaching of the Irish language in certain Canadian universities. For the nine month period, September 2012- May 2013, ICUF wishes to appoint Irish Language Instructors to each of the following universities :
- University of St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, Ontario
- Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec,
- St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia
- St. Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia,
- St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick
- Memorial University, St. John’s, Newfoundland
- University of Ottawa, Ontario
These awards enable teachers to participate in the Irish language instruction programme at a Canadian university, and will also provide individuals with the opportunity to refine their teaching skills and extend their knowledge of Canadian society and culture, enriching their teaching work on their return to Ireland. Further information on the awards, the terms and conditions and application forms are available on www.icuf.ie. For enquiries and further details please email gaeilge@icuf.ie.
CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: THURSDAY, MARCH 1st, 2012
Gaeltacht schools bear brunt of cuts
January 27, 2012
Gaeltacht schools will be worst affected by controversial changes to the pupil/teacher ratio announced in the Budget, it has been claimed.
Savage cuts to teacher numbers announced in December mean the minimum number of pupils required for a fourth teacher goes from 81 to 83.
However, in Irish-speaking areas where the minimum was previously 76 pupils, schools now need 83 pupils to qualify for a fourth teacher.
This increases to 86 by 2014 for all schools, meaning the increase in Gaeltacht areas will be 10 pupils compared to five pupils in other areas.
Last night, the organisation representing Gaeltacht schools warned the changes would accelerate the decline of the Irish language.
Chief Executive of Eagraiocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta, Treasa Ni Mhainin, said at least 12 four-teacher Gaeltacht schools will lose a teacher in September.
The organisation predicts that another 30 of the 143 Gaeltacht schools will lose teachers in the next three years.
Aine Ui Loinsigh is the principal of Scoil Eoin Baiste in Lispole, CO Kerry, one of the four teacher Gaeltacht schools that will lose a teacher in September.
In 1999, Gaeltacht schools received a special concession from the then Education Minister Mary Hanafin that lowered the minimum pupil requirement.
Ms Ui Loinsigh said that just because children live in a Gaeltacht area, it didn’t necessarily mean they were all from Irish-speaking homes.
“When we’re teaching a subject, we have to teach the langauge first. For example, if I’m teaching science to my sixth class, I’ll have to teach them the terms first in Irish and that’s why this concession was made to Gaeltacht schools,” Ms Ui Loingigh explained.
A spokesperson from the Department of Education was not available for comment last night.
IRISH INDEPENDENT
Packed meeting hears fears for future of schools
January 27, 2012
DINGLE’S Pobalscoil Corca Dhuibhne was packed to the rafters on Monday night as hundreds of concerned parents and local residents attended a public meeting called by INTO staff representatives to discuss issues facing the West Kerry Gaeltacht following budgetary proposals to change pupil teacher ratios.
A number of public representatives were present at the meeting including Kerry North TD Deputy Arthur Spring and Senator Marie Moloney (Labour), Independent Kerry South TDS Michael Healy-rae and Tom Mcellistrim,, Cllr Michael Gleeson, Cllr Micheál O’shea (Fianna Fáil) and former Councillor Breandán Macgearailt, North Kerry TD Deputy Martin Ferris and Cllr Toiréasa Ferris (Sinn Féin), Cllr Matt Griffin, Cllr Seamus Cosai Fitzgerald and Kerry South TD Brendan Griffin (Fine Gael).
Chairing the meeting were Principals Seanachán Macgearailt, Seán Ó Catháin and Treasa Ní Mhainnín.
Present also at the meeting were representatives from other primary schools located outside An Gaeltacht including Fybough National School in Keel, who are facing the loss of a teacher if the proposals go ahead. INTO President Jim Higgins also attended.
In addressing the packed auditorium, Scoil an Ghleanna Principal Seanachán Macgearailt, branch secretary of Craobh an Daingin, explained how the majority of primary schools located in the Corca Dhuibhne area will lose a mainstream teacher within the next four years as the recent changes to staffing schedules apply to schools with less than 86 pupils. A reduction in learning support hours is also anticipated and some schools in the region may even face closure or amalgamation.
The meeting heard that the vast majority of two to three teacher schools are located in rural areas, such as Corca Dhuibhne, and many multi-grade classes, consisting of three or four different class groupings, will now be placed in classrooms with 25 – 30 pupils.
Treasa Ní Mhainnín said schools in An Ghaeltacht will face an increase of 10 per cent in pupil/ teacher ratios rather than the two per cent increase proposed nationally, because the pupil concession allocated to Gaeltacht schools is also ceasing under these new proposals.
Speaking at the meeting was Spanish teacher Lucia Atencia who is concerned that funding for the teaching of a foreign language in primary schools will be cut.
“Ireland is the only country in Europe which does not teach a foreign language at primary level – without this, we are at an immediate disadvantage,” she said.
Speaking passionately, former INTO President Jim Higgins called on the TDS present to “stand up for small schools”.
Addressing the attendance as Gaeilge, Cllr Micheal Gleeson spoke of the importance of children and culture in Gaeltacht areas, sympathising with the plight of the teachers and referring to the “high price a child has to pay for the greed of bankers.”
North Kerry Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris slammed the proposed cutbacks adding that it is “difficult to be a TD today, as what’s happening in education at the moment is an absolute disgrace.”
Labour Senator Marie Moloney admitted that “things were bad”, adding that 80 per cent of the education budget goes on teachers’ wages with only 20 per cent spent on services.
North Kerry Labour TD AJ Spring commended the resolute solidarity of those present in their quest to protect Gaeltacht schools and An Ghaeilge. He also said that the inequality being shown to Gaeltacht schools in having to sustain a 10 per cent increase in pupil teacher ratios rather than two per cent, needed to be addressed.
Outlining the issues at stake for schools and the community at large in Gaeltacht areas, former Councillor Breandán Macgearailt said, as Gaeilge, that three elements were crucial to the Gaeltacht’s survival, “teanga beo, daoine a bheith ag obair sa Ghaeltacht agus scoileanna a bheith ann.”
South Kerry Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin also spoke in Irish, drawing attention to the fact that he had scheduled a meeting to specifically discuss the matters concerning primary schools in the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht with Taoiseach Enda Kenny today (Wednesday), having also raised the issues facing Corca Dhuibhne in his meeting with Education Minister Ruairi Quinn last week.
He outlined details of alternative cost-saving measures tabled by Fine Gael’s Education Committee at a recent parliamentary party meeting which could challenge the need to implement the current budgetary proposals. The Deputy also raised the dilemma facing Scoil Naisiúnta an Chlocháin which has no other Gaeltacht school within reasonable proximity if faced with amalgamation.
Issues raised at the gathering are set to be highlighted at meeting, scheduled by four Labour and four Fine Gael representatives, with the Minister for Education this Thursday.
THE KERRYMAN
