Brú le Gaelcholáiste úr a bhunú i ndeisceart Bhaile Átha Cliath
September 8, 2010
Leaving Cert Irish syllabus criticised
September 1, 2010
A decision by Minister for Education Mary Coughlan not to add a new Irish language subject to the Leaving Cert curriculum will lead to “cultural impoverishment”, a leading educationalist has warned.
A campaign to introduce the subject was launched by Áine Ní Ghallchóir of NUI Maynooth after it emerged that a revised Leaving syllabus being introduced this September included a reduced volume of literature for higher level-students. Instead, the new syllabus has a greater focus on spoken and aural examinations with 40 per cent of the marks to be allotted to the oral examination, and 10 per cent for the aural examination.
The syllabus no longer contains an entire novel and students are only required to read seven chapters of Maidhc Dainín’s A Thig Ná Tit Orm and specified excerpts from Tóraíocht Diarmuid agus Gráinne . The history of the Irish language has also been removed as an element of the course.
Meitheal na Gaeilge ATAL, comprising representatives from Gaelscoileanna Teoranta, Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, was formed to lobby the department for the introduction of a new literature-oriented subject.
Lobbyists say the revised syllabus does not recognise the existence of native Irish speakers, gaelscoileanna, or students of higher proficiency who may wish to attain a high standard of education in the Irish language at second level.
Citing duplication of resources and the “possible inequity” for students without a high proficiency in Irish “in terms of CAO access”, the department said Ms Coughlan “is not convinced” of the merits of introducing a new Irish subject.
Ms Ní Ghallchóir, who heads NUI Maynooth’s Language Centre, said it was introduced with “scant regard” for good practice and would lead to “lower levels of communicative competence and cultural impoverishment”.
The syllabus will continue, the department said, but the Tánaiste has directed the National Council of Curriculum and Assessment to review its implementation, as is normally the practice.
The Irish Times – Éanna Ó Caollaí
01 Meán Fómhair 2010
Call for new Irish subject rejected
August 31, 2010
Minister for Education Mary Coughlan has rejected a call for the addition of a new Irish language subject to the Leaving Cert curriculum.
Educationalists had sought the introduction of the new subject after it emerged that the revised Leaving Certificate syllabus being introduced this September includes a reduced volume of literature for study by higher level students.
Instead, the syllabus has a greater focus on spoken and aural examinations with 40 per cent of the marks to be allotted to the oral examination, and 10 per cent for the aural examination.
The syllabus no longer contains an entire novel and students are only required to read seven chapters of Maidhc Dainín’s A Thig Ná Tit Orm and specified excerpts from Tóraíocht Diarmuid agus Gráinne. The history of the Irish language has also been removed as an element of the course.
Lobbyists say the revised syllabus does not recognise the existance of native Irish speakers, Gaelscoileanna, or students of higher proficiency who may wish to attain a high standard of education in the Irish language at second level.
Citing duplication of resources and the “possible inequity” for students without a high proficiency in Irish “in terms of CAO access,” the Department of Education said Tánaiste Mary Coughlan “is not convinced” of the merits of introducing a new subject for Irish.
The revised syllabus will continue “as planned”, but the Tánaiste has directed the National Council of Curriculum and Assessment to undertake a review of the implementation of the new syllabus, as is normally the practice.
Meitheal na Gaeilge ATAL, comprising representatives from Gaelscoileanna Teoranta, Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, has lobbied the Department of Education for the introduction of a new literature-oriented subject.
The collective contends the new syllabus represents a retrograde step in the teaching of Irish in that it provides an insufficient challenge for students with a high proficiency in Irish.
Meitheal believes the new syllabus will damage the Irish language as a community language, a school subject and as an academic subject unless a more substantial provision is made.
The Department of Education said the review would “take account” of the issues raised by Meitheal and the experiences of the first tranche of candidates under the new system.
The first exam based on the new revised syllabuses will take place in 2012.
Four Irish schools set to open in North
July 30, 2010
Four new Irish language primary schools will open in Northern Ireland in September, Education Minister Caitríona Ruane has announced.
The schools are Gaelscoil an tSeancha, Magherafelt; Gaelscoil na mBeann, Kilkeel; Gaelscoil Léim an Mhadaidh, Limavady; and Gaelscoil Choin Rí Uladh, Ballymena. The decision was made on the basis of growing demand for Irish language education, said Ms Ruane. Funding from the Department of Education will be conditional on the schools achieving admissions thresholds and proving their long-term viability.
Tom Elliott MLA, of the Ulster Unionist Party, criticised Ms Ruane’s stance on Irish-medium education, claiming that, on average, pupils in Irish-medium schools receive £460 per annum more than those in mainstream schools. Mr Elliott had previously expressed concern over preferential treatment of Irish-medium pupils.But Comhairle na Gaelscolaochta chief executive Seán Coinn welcomed the decision, and said it reflected a growing confidence in the merits of bilingual education.
The Irish Times – Hugh McDowell
30 Iúil 2010
Parents press on with plans for Gaelscoil
July 19, 2010
A GROUP of parents in Ratoath, Co Meath, are pressing ahead with plans to establish a Gaelscoil in the town despite receiving no funding or recognition from the Department of Education and Science.
No Gaelscoil has received recognition since 2008, and the department has rejected all seven applications for recognition to commence made by Gaelscoileanna this year.
Gaelscoil Rath Tó plans to open in September and currently has 11 students registered to enter a junior infants class.
Some 30 students had been registered for this class before the department confirmed it would not grant the school recognition.
The school still has over 30 students registered for entry for every year from 2011 to 2014.
Minister for Education Mary Coughlan has said there is not sufficient demographic growth in Ratoath to merit a new primary school there.
“There was a specific application for the establishment of a new Gaelscoil in Ratoath, Co Meath,” she told the Dáil last April. “However, after detailed analysis of the increase in pupil numbers for September this year and of the capacity in existing schools it was not necessary to establish a new school to cater for the demographic increase.”
She said that no primary schools would be given recognition to commence until a review of application procedures has been completed.
Seán Ó Buachalla, a member of the school’s establishment committee, said the department had admitted the need for a new school in Ratoath in late 2009, but had “U-turned” on that decision in February 2010. “Demographics suggest a new school will be needed in Ratoath. The 2006 census showed that Ratoath has the highest youth population in the country, with 36 per cent of the town under 14 years of age.”
A classroom has been secured on the first floor of Ratoath’s community centre, and the school has hired a teacher using financial assistance from Conradh na Gaeilge. Local businesses have pledged their support to the project, and have provided desks, chairs and cleaning services.
Gaelscoil Rath Tó is hosting an open evening in the school this Wednesday, which Mr Ó Buachalla hopes will attract new enrolments and restore the confidence of parents who are nervous about sending their children to an unrecognised school. “This is not just a local issue, but a national one,” he said. “It is a unifying issue for anybody who supports Irish language education.”
Hugh McDowell
Le bogadh
July 1, 2010
Feachtas le hábhar nua Gaeilge a chur ar fáil don Ardteist
May 12, 2010
‘Ní gá scoil nua’
May 5, 2010
Eagrais Ghaeilge ar lorg aitheantais do Ghaelscoil Ráth Tó
April 28, 2010
Pupils ‘ignored’ in new Irish syllabus
March 25, 2010
Gaelscoileanna, the national co-ordinating body for schools teaching through the medium of Irish, is concerned that an amended Leaving Certificate syllabus for Irish published last week ignores the needs of pupils with a high standard of Irish. In a statement, the group say that “the substantial reduction in the literature course and the increased marks awarded for the oral exam will have a huge impact on the pupils’ standard of Irish. Ultimately, these changes will mean that pupils from Gaelcholáistí, or indeed capable pupils in English-medium schools will not be suitably challenged by the new Leaving Certificate Irish syllabus. A high standard of Irish in the Gaelcholáistí is necessary in order for students to tackle other subjects studied at Leaving Certificate level through the medium of Irish. Without the correct level of Irish, they would be forced to undertake other subjects through the medium of English”.
The group’s CEO, Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, said that they were “very unhappy” that a circular proposing “sweeping changes for Irish as a subject at Leaving Certificate level was published without consultation with partners and schools. We’re also dissatisfied with the lack of notice given to schools, making it more difficult for them to make the necessary preparations. There will be huge implications for schools and there is a danger that pupils will not be able to attain the high standard of Irish which is currently being achieved. This will result in a shortage of people with a high standard of Irish available to work in professions which demand this, for example, teaching. If the teaching of the language is not made sufficiently challenging, it won’t develop, in terms of literature, journalism etc. This would be disastrous for training colleges and for the future of the Irish language.”
The group want the new Minister for Education, Mary Coughlan, to guarantee an extra Irish subject at Honours Leaving Certificate level to tackle the challenges in written Irish. This, they believe, would provide pupils with a high standard of Irish and a chance to develop their language skills and a proper understanding of Irish literature.
The Irish Times has contacted the Department of Education about the statement from Gaelscoileanna. A spokeswoman from the Department said that they would reply as soon as possible. The response will be posted when it comes.
Pól Ó Muirí, Irish Times Blogs
