Dianchúrsa Gaeilge in Ráth Chairn ón Luan 25 Samhain- Aoine 29 Samhain 2013
November 11, 2013
Focus on your future at the DIT Open Day
November 11, 2013
The DIT Open Day will take place on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 December at DIT Aungier Street (9am to 3pm).
The website for this year’s open day is now live at www.dit.ie/openday.
The Open Day gives students a chance to discover DIT for themselves, meet current students and staff, attend talks and check out the facilities and clubs and societies that DIT has to offer.
All events are free and we’ve a fun couple of days lined up with our mascot Duck Norris shaking a tail feather and the Spin 103.8 crew on hand with live broadcasts from DIT Aungier Street.
Amongst the talks lined up will be a parents’ information session for any mums, dads and guardians who want to pop along to the Open Day.
Also lined up on Saturday 7th December is the Music Open Day (for third level music programmes at DIT). Students can visit both Aungier Street for the main open day and then head around the corner to the DIT building on Chatham Row (just off Grafton Street). It takes place from 2 to 4.30pm and will feature classical and traditional music demonstration lessons and performances.
DIT Open Day is always one of the most interactive and fun events of our academic year so make sure to keep these dates free – 6 and 7 December.
For more, visit www.dit.ie/openday.
For further information, please contact the DIT Press Office on 01-4027130 or email lisa.jewell@dit.ie.
Ceardlanna Cruinnis sa Ghaeilge le FNT
November 11, 2013
Gaelscoil / Naíscoil Éanna Open Day
November 11, 2013
You are cordially invited to attend the Open Day for Gaelscoil / Naíscoil Éanna on Saturday 30th November 2013 between the hours of 12 – 2pm.
Parents, children, family members and friends are more than welcome to come along, meet the staff and view the nursery and the school buildings to gain an insight into the educational provision for nursery and primary school age children at the only Irish medium facility in Newtownabbey.
We hope to see you there! Bígí Linn!
Contact Gaelscoil Éanna – Fón: (028) 90830088
Naíscoil and Gaelscoil Éanna are housed within the grounds of Naomh Éanna CLG on the Hightown Road in Glengormley. Both schools nestle amid the panoramic surroundings of north Antrim – aptly described as ‘urban amenities in a rural setting.’ This unique and natural setting, for an educational facility, is a feature greatly favoured by the pupils and parents alike.
TG4 launches new children’s App
November 11, 2013
TG4 launched a new app this week for children; ‘Cúlacaint 3’ which is now available for download on iTunes.
Young children are becoming more aware of the growth of technology and there are no limits to the possibilities when it comes to entertainment. Programmes are no longer restricted to the television screen and new ways of learning are constantly being developed.
Cúlacaint 3 is the third instalment in the highly successful Cúlacaint series which has already been awarded the Learner’s prize at the 2013 Celtic Media Awards and Cúlacaint 2 has recently been shortlisted for the Appy 2013 prize scheme, the annual competition for the best App in Ireland.
Cúlacaint 3 helps young children learn new words by listening and reading lists of fun words based on various aspects of daily life including – on the beach, on the farm, in the town and in the woods. A sound recording for all words and terms associated with the themes is provided to assist users phonetically.
Cúlacaint Apps are available to download free of charge on iStore or on the App Store or from http://www.tg4.ie/ie/programmes/cula4/cula-caint.html.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Tionól Teagaisc 2013 i gCorcaigh
November 7, 2013
Minister Quinn announces an additional €70m for school improvements
November 7, 2013
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., has today announced the allocation of almost €70 million for school improvements.
Over €28 million is being made available as a once-off payment to primary schools as part of the Minor Works Grant scheme. Another €40 million will be allocated under the Summer Works Scheme 2014 which is being re-introduced to fund the improvement and upgrading of existing school buildings.
The Minor Works Grant will be paid to primary schools in the coming weeks and will enable schools to undertake small scale repair works without the need to interact with the Department.
“I know that the immediate payment of this grant in 2013 will be welcomed by school communities and management bodies as a valuable contribution to the costs of maintaining school infrastructure,” said Minister Quinn.
Funding from the Summer Works Scheme will allow schools to carry out small and medium scale building works such as gas, electrical and mechanical works, roof and window upgrades, structural improvements; works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings.
It is up to schools to identify the most urgently required projects to be funded from the Summer Works Scheme. Each school can apply for one small scale project and will be responsible for the completion of those works.
“Despite the funding constraints on my Department’s capital budget I am pleased to re-introduce the summer works scheme in 2014. This funding package is being made as part of this Government’s continued commitment to improve facilities in schools throughout the country. These works will be carried out in schools over the summer months, when the pupils are on holidays, so the disruption to schooling will be kept to a minimum,” the Minister said.
“This scheme will not only improve the learning environment for thousands of students, but the projects will also stimulate economic activity by supporting 2,400 direct and 480 indirect much needed construction jobs in the local economy.”
Schools can apply for these grants online using the Esinet portal. A Freephone service is also available to assist schools with queries. It can be contacted at 1800 200 955 daily from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm from 7th November to 10th December 2013.
Full details on the Summer Works Scheme are available at http://www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Re-use-of-Public-Sector-Information/Library/PR13_11_05_file.pdf
Fuaim-U Android App
November 6, 2013
Fuaim-U is an Irish phonics game that follows a phonic programme for children learning to read and spell in Irish. Fuaim-U begins with basic CVC words and progresses to longer words, multisyllabic words, words with aspiration and lenition, broad and slender words and then the variations of spelling for the long vowel sounds.
All the words are in standard Irish but focus on Ulster Irish and the correlation between Ulster pronunciation and standard spelling. Obviously most of the games are applicable to all dialects and some to Ulster Irish only. The other two main dialects will follow.
The App is available to buy from Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cogg.fonicfuaim&hl=en)
New funding model discussed in NI Assembly
November 6, 2013
The Committee of Culture, Arts and Leisure (CCAL) welcomed Foras na Gaeilge to the Northern Ireland Assembly recently to discuss the implication of the new funding model on the Irish language in the six counties.
A new funding model for the Irish language Voluntary Sector was announced in July 2013 when a final decision regarding the model proposed by Foras na Gaeilge was announced by the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC).
Under the new system, 6 lead organisations operating on an all-island basis will replace the 19 current core-funded organisations and will deliver services according to 6 strategic priorities.
The timeline for the restructure of the sector was announced recently and welcomed all organisations to submit an expression of interest by 30 October 2013.
CCAL raised several questions throughout the discussion with Foras na Gaeilge regarding the concern among organisations in the north about the effect the new structure will have on the particular areas of work that have been progressed over many years relating to the promotion of Irish in the 6 counties. The committee maintained that the state of the language is completely different in both jurisdictions and described the concern that is in the community regarding the damage that the new structure could have on the sector.
There are currently seven core-funded bodies based in the six counties and it is unknown how many will remain under the new model. The committee drew attention to the important cross community work carried out by Iontaobhas Ultach over many years and the significant research done by Pobal regarding the state of the language and language rights in the jurisdiction.
The committee emphasised the importance of this experience and expertise in any progress made in the future and believed that valuable resources will be lost under the new structure. Committee members also raised the matter of the representation of northern organisations on the development forum. Members agreed that the details of the Business Case, which is with the Department of Culture, Leisure and Arts for consideration, regarding advisers and change of management should have been put in place long before now. Foras na Gaeilge informed CCAL that each lead-organisation would operate on an all-island basis which means that staff would be based in both jurisdictions.
It was stated that organisations in the south have vast experience in dealing with the promotion of the Irish language in the six counties and that the new model would have a positive effect on cross-community areas of work as there will be more emphasis placed on the work of local groups active on the ground.
While Foras na Gaeilge will not be responsible for the recruitment of lead-organisations, they will be advising that the expertise within the current sector be prioritised in any recruitment process. Every effort will be made to keep the expertise of the 19 core-funded bodies within the new sector layout and that it is hoped pay scales will remain the same for the most part.
Foras na Gaeilge stated that the new structure would not be able to accommodate all employees within the current set-up but it has been recommended that organisations amalgamate as part of the application process. It is understood that several organisations are in talks regarding amalgamations however, Foras na Gaeilge said that they are in no position to push bodies together during the process. Organisations will be permitted to amalgamate in spite of submitting an expression of interest as a single body.
CCAL emphasised the importance of the various projects carried out constantly by organisations and agreed that all projects must continue under the new model. Foras na Gaeilge have committed to facilitating the transfer of projects to new organisations in order to ensure that the important work carried out over the years will remain in place.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Significant weaknesses in teaching of Irish
November 6, 2013
Chief Inspector’s Report shows major flaws in the learning and teaching of Irish in the education system.
The Report compiled by Chief Inspector Harold Hislop is based on the details of both announced and unannounced inspections carried out by the Department of Education and Skills between 2010 and 2012 and details the quality of learning and teaching of all subjects in Ireland’s schools.
This is the first time that the report has been published publically and while the quality of most subjects has been praised, the Chief Inspector has been critical of the approach to the teaching of Irish.
According to the report, the quality of Irish lessons is unsatisfactory in 24% of primary schools and 28% of post-primary schools. It found that 22% of students were not pupils were not provided with opportunities to learn through talk and discussion, one of the fundamental requirements of language learning. The inspection and Whole School Evaluations (WSE) found that students must be given greater opportunities to be provided to pupils to work collaboratively during Irish lessons, and for the language learning to be consolidated.
The report found that preparation and planning were of utmost importance in schools were the teaching of Irish was of a high standard. It estimates that 22% of teachers do not sufficiently prepare for lessons and as a result a significant amount of students are not being provided with the appropriate learning programme.
Inspectors noted that the assessment process was unsatisfactory in 35% of Irish lessons. The Chief Inspector’s Report found that this figure demonstrated the need of primary schools to make planned, systematic provision for assessing pupils’ learning of the main language skills in Irish.
A deficiency in resources for teaching Irish was recognised as a significant challenge in 20% of lessons and was also noted as challenge at post-primary level. The Inspectorate, in its 2007 report, Irish in the Primary School, recommended the implementation of a programme similar to Séideán Sí (currently in use in Gaeltacht and all-Irish schools) in all schools however, there has been no implementation of such a programme. It is hoped that the work of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and will have a significant impact on this inadequacy.
The report highlights the need for greater attention to phonological awareness at post-primary level, a stronger focus on the acquisition of language structures and grammar rules and the consolidation of newly-acquired aspects of language. It recommends that lessons focus more on the target language and avoid translations. Inspector reports also found that found that in a small but significant number of classrooms, teachers’ own linguistic skills were deficient.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
