School closures fear in Gaeltacht areas
December 13, 2011
Gaeltacht parents and teachers have expressed their dismay at cuts to small rural schools announced in last week’s budget.
A series of meetings have been held in Gaeltachtaí this week after Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, announced that the pupil teacher ratio would increase in schools with less than 4 teachers.
Treasa Ní Mhainín from Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta says that the decision could mean that many Gaeltacht areas could eventually be left with empty schools and it could incur job losses in Gaeltacht areas.
She believes that up to 91 schools of less than 86 pupils which are located in Gaeltacht areas are liable to suffer under the new cuts.
She says that the decision has worried the organisation and teachers with the fear being that eventually schools would have to close due to the fact they would have a low level of pupils.
Last night in Baile Bhúirne in the Muskerry Gaeltacht in Cork teachers and parents from southern Gaeltacht areas in Cork, Kerry and Waterford met to discuss the issue while another meeting took place in the Conamara Gaeltacht yesterday afternoon.
Again as happened in the case of the decision to merge the office of the Language Commisioner and the Office of the Ombudsman, prior to the publication of a review of the relevant legislation, this decision has been made irrespective of a new report yet to be published on
the viability of small schools in rural areas.
The publication date of the report has yet to be announced but it is expected to be put before the Minister for Education in mid 2012.
In the meantime, the closure of rural schools has become an issue of contention in rural areas- which was most evident with the response to the closure of Meenamore national school in Donegal.
The date of a meeting on the issue has been moved forward and will now take place in Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in Gaoth Dobhair today at 4.30 p.m.
Local TD and Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs, Dinny McGinley has come out saying that no decision will be made on the closure of the school without the consultation of parents and the Board of Management. Seven pupils attend the school which recently celebrated its centenary year.
Claims that it may be more effective to close schools operating on such a small level have been resolutely rejected by organisations such as Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta.
“What is effective about making such a decision prior to the publication of an official report on the matter,” says Treasa Ní Mhainín.
“ In the case of school closures or mergers, the capital allowance follows the child to the new school and the teacher will still have to be paid. It may happen that the only saving made be on items such as electricity costs. I don’t understand this rationale as it has been shown that children in small schools are receiving such a high standard of education.”
Ag tógáil páistí le Gaeilge
December 13, 2011
Special Needs in Irish medium Education to be discussed at conference
November 30, 2011
Minister for Education in Northern Ireland, John Ó Dowd will attend a conference on special needs in Irish medium education, which will take place in the Seán Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry tomorrrow, December 1st.
The conference organised by POBAL will focus on how to maximize North/South cooperation in relation to the training and support needs of the Irish medium education sector when providing for children with additional educational needs. Educators, teachers, and representatives from all aspects of the sector will be attending this conference to share information and explore ideas in relation to joint-working initiatives, particularly in relation to the development of training and research in this area. Professor Dónall Ó Baoill will chair this debate.
This conference draws on the research carried out by POBAL, Special Education Needs in Irish medium schools: All-island research on the support and training needs of the sector.
Janet Muller, Chief Executive of POBAL says there are “interesting opportunities to maximize resources but, as you can imagine, there are also some difficulties to overcome. We believe that it is possible to strengthen these links and find useful ways to share information on a more structured basis.”
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com 29 Samhain 2011
Bilingual Advantange in the classroom
November 28, 2011
Bilingual pupils outperform English speakers in maths at second and third level, according to a new report published earlier this month.
The new report published by the National Centre for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and Learning in the University of Limerick is based on a study carried out by Dr Máire Ní Ríordáin over a three year period from 2005 and 2008.
The aim of the study was to investigate Irish post-primary and undergraduate mathematics students experiences of learning Maths through the medium of English, which was their second language.
The report finds that learning maths through the medium of Irish at primary school level may enhance long term understanding of maths, even in English-medium second level education.
However it notes that the during the transition from Irish medium education to English medium second level education that Irish speakers did experience some disadvantage of 8.7% when assessed in English. However the report’s author notes that these problems were only experienced in the initial transition and are specific to having English as the new language of learning.
Obstacles faced by Irish speakers included problems with the register of English Mathematics, including syntax semantics and mathematics vocabulary.
However,“ The advantages of being bilingual can outweigh the negative ones once proficiency is developed in both languages” says Dr Ní Ríordáin.
The report notes that Irish speakers use both language when solving mathematical problems and that students switch between languages. Further research needs to look at how code-switching can be incorporated into the classroom. It also notes that future government initiatives could consider the opportunity of studying additional subjects through the medium of Irish. Minister Seán Sherlock launched the report which can be downloaded here.
©Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com 24 Samhain 2011.
Seimineár lae ar litríocht na Nua-Ghaeilge san Ardteist
November 28, 2011
Tacaíocht an phobail á lorg do Ghaelcholáiste nua i nDún Droma
November 28, 2011
Scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge chun tosaigh
November 28, 2011
450 Teachers attend Irish Teaching Conference
November 16, 2011
Over 450 Irish language teachers descended upon NUI, Maynooth last weekend, to attend An Tionól Teagaisc. Organised by the Second Level Support Service, An Tionól Teagaisc, was a national forum for Irish language secondary school teachers with a choice of over thirty workshops to attend.
The event began with a keynote address by Dónall Mac Diarmada, from the State Examinations Commission, who gave a thorough run through of the changes which have been recently effected on the Irish language leaving certificate examination.
This keynote address sparked many questions from the audience, and Mac Diarmad took the time to address each and every question.
During the discussion, some teachers expressed their dissatisfaction with the current model whereby students undertake a common Oral examination, and recommended that such an exam should be streamed with a choice for students of Higher or Ordinary level.
The Tionól took place over two days, with a choice of over 30 workshops on the Saturday, covering a very wide rang of topics. Special emphasis was placed on information and communication technology (ICT). Cathal Ó Mórdha spoke about how to get the best use out of an iPad when preparing for the Leaving Certificate oral exam.
Seán Ó Gáibhín discussed the interactive white board, and Dr. Marcus Ó Conaire described a current project which he has recently launched with support from An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, which includes an archive of teaching aids and audiovisual material online on iTunes. This material can be accessed by logging on to iTunes, selecting the category, K-12, and searching for the term “COGG”.
During the Tionól, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge and Comhar na Múinteoirí Gaeilge launched the DVD Cuireadh Chun Cainte, a practical guide to the Oral exam for those undertaking the Leaving Certificate course.
Gaelport
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