Ráiteas Ruairí Quinn ina ábhar conspóide ar líne arís
Nollaig 12, 2012
Tá sé ráite ag an Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna, Ruairí Quinn TD inniu gur chúis buartha dó an méid ama a chaitear ar an nGaeilge agus ar an reiligiúin i mbunscoileanna na tíre.
Chuir ráiteas an Aire an lasair sa bharróg agus bhí plé bríomhar ar Facebook agus ar Twitter i rith an lae.
Foilsíodh ráiteas an Aire ar shuíomh Gréasáin an Irish Examiner agus Breaking News níos túisce sa lá. Dar leis an Aire, is faoi chúram údaráis agus pátrúin na scoileanna a bhfuil dáileadh na n-uaireanta le linn an lá scoile ach gur b’fhearr leis go gcaithfí níos lú ama ar an nGaeilge agus an reiligiún agus níos mó ama ar an matamaitic agus an eolaíocht.
Foilsíodh staidéar idirnáisiúnta nua inniu a thugann le fios go bhfuil an caighdeán léitheoireachta, matamaitice agus eolaíochta i scoileanna na hÉireann os cionn an mheáin ach gan dóibh a bheith ar an gcaighdeán céanna leis na tíortha ar bharr an liosta.
Rinneadh neart plé ar an ábhar seo le linn olltoghcháin 2011 nuair a sheas Páirtí an Lucht Oibre agus na páirtithe polaitíochta eile i gcoinne thogra Fhine Gael a mhol an Ghaeilge mar ábhar roghnach ar an Ardteist, moladh a baineadh siar sular toghadh an Rialtas reatha.
Dúirt an tAire Ruairí Quinn go bhfuil easpa cothromaíochta idir an méid ama a chaitear ar mhúineadh na Gaeilge agus ar an reiligiúin i gcomparáid le hábhair eile agus dála an scéil, bhí se ar aon tuairim i mí Aibreán na bliana seo nuair a ardaíodh an cheist chéanna.
Dúirt sé ag an am gur gá plé suntasach a dhéanamh ar an mbéim a chuirtear ar an nGaeilge agus an reiligiún mar ábhair scoile ionas gur bhféadfaí aghaidh a thabhairt ar scileanna litearthachta agus uimhearthachta a fhorbairt.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
We’re failing to prepare pupils for jobs of the future
Nollaig 12, 2012
IRISH 10-year-olds have been outperformed in science and maths in international tests, prompting new concerns about how well the education system is equipping students for jobs of the future.
Ireland ranked 10th out of 45 in reading, 17th out of 50 in maths and 22nd out of 50 in science in the world’s largest educational assessments at primary school level.
Irish pupils scored above average in all three areas – but while they were among the best in reading, they fell significantly behind many top-performing countries in maths and science.
Ireland has scored no better at science or maths than when similar tests were carried out in 1995 – when science wasn’t even on the primary curriculum.
Tony Donohoe, head of education policy with employers’ organisation IBEC, expressed concern at Ireland’s science ranking. He said: “Our performance could, at best, be described as average and given our aspirations to be a knowledge-based economy, average is not good enough.”
Mr Donohoe said Ireland had a particular interest in developing a pipeline of science and technology skills to maintain and develop competitiveness.
One of the issues highlighted in the reports is the amount of teaching time devoted to the different subjects in primary schools. Mr Donohoe noted that Irish pupils spent 25pc less time learning science than the survey average, and significantly less time than the top countries. Ireland is close to the bottom of the league in terms of tuition time for science, at the lower end of the scale for maths, and at the high end for reading.
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn welcomed the aboveaverage performance by Irish pupils in all three tests, but added: “We cannot be complacent. Clearly, we need to improve our teaching of mathematics and science at all levels.”
Mr Quinn said that he would like to see more time devoted to science and maths in schools, rather than Irish and religion. He noted that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) was currently conducting a review of time spent teaching all subjects at primary level and said he was awaiting the outcome with interest.
The studies, known as TIMSS (maths and science) and PIRLS (reading) were carried out among about 300,000 pupils internationally – including about 4,500 in Ireland in spring 2011. Since then, teaching time for maths and reading has been increased in primary schools under the new Literacy and Numeracy Strategy.
While primary pupils spend an hour a week on science, Department of Education rules require them to spend two-and-a-half hours a week on religion. Other studies have shown that Irish primary pupils spend only 4pc of their class time on science – half the international average of 8pc. By comparison, primary schools devote 10pc of teaching time to religion, two-and-a-half times more than the international average of 4pc.
Irish National Teachers’ Organisation general secretary Sheila Nunan said having increased the time allocated to maths in the curriculum “we now need to look at doing the same for science”.
She said that aspects of science were relatively new in Irish primary schools and outcomes were relatively good despite the fact that most teachers did not have a background in chemistry and physics in Leaving Cert. “Government needs to support ongoing professional development for teachers in this area. Funding must also be found for proper science equipment to support inquiry and experiment in the classroom.”
Irish Primary Principals Network director Sean Cottrell said the findings were “encouraging, but should be treated as a call to action rather than just a reason to rest on our laurels”.
Reduced
Five countries performed significantly better than Ireland in reading: Hong Kong, Finland, Singapore, the Russian Federation and Northern Ireland.
In maths, Ireland was significantly below countries such as Singapore, Korea, Japan, Northern Ireland, Finland, England and the US. In science, Irish students were significantly below Korea, Singapore, Finland, Japan, the US, Sweden and England.
Ireland has, however, reduced the proportion of really weak pupils in reading and maths, attributed to extra resources put into schools to support students suffering a disadvantage.
www.independent.ie
Hope of ‘world-class system’ some way off
Nollaig 12, 2012
The time allocated to maths and science in primary schools may have to increase
In absolute terms, Ireland has performed well in the new international rankings. Irish children in fourth class are performing at above average levels in literacy, maths and science.
The Irish primary education system is performing reasonably well in reading and Irish students are performing at a high level. But when set against the lofty ambitions set for it by government, the performance is less impressive.
The Irish education system is good but still something less than the “world-class system” regularly trumpeted by successive ministers for education. To coin a term: we are good, but not great.
One awkward fact emerges from the reports – Ireland is not ranked among the top performers in reading, maths or science. Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn – who has criticised the complacency about overall standards in the education system – said yesterday that “pupils in a number of other countries are performing significantly above the performance of Irish students’’ .
Overall plan
What’s the problem on maths and science? When in opposition Quinn was in no doubt. Taken together, the teaching of religion and Irish absorbed more than 20 per cent of teaching time at primary level. Essentially, he made the case for recasting the day in primary schools with a focus on maths and science .
As Minister , Quinn is actively pursuing the issue. As part of his overall plan to boost literacy and numeracy, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has been asked to examine the time dedicated to each subject in the primary school curriculum.
At present only 4 per cent of all curriculum time is allocated to science in primary schools, the second lowest in the developed world. Time allocated to maths (12 per cent) and science is also well below the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average (16 per cent and 8 per cent respectively).
Time allocated
Unsurprisingly, the report shows a direct correlation between the time allocated to a subject and student performance in that subject.
Ireland allocates a high proportion of teaching time to reading ( in both English and Irish) and the results are encouraging. But results are less impressive in maths and science, where less time is allocated.
Yesterday, Quinn hinted he was still impatient for change. “The official time allocation for religion and Irish is high relative to other subjects.
“Am I personally concerned by that? Yes I am. But this is a choice that parents and teachers and the patrons of schools have to make.”
www.irishtimes.com
Lá na cinniúna d’eagrais Ghaeilge
Nollaig 11, 2012
Buailfidh airí ón Rialtas ó dheas agus ó thuaidh lena chéile in Ard Mhacha amárach, 12 Nollaig, mar a fhógrófar cinneadh maidir le todhchaí na n-eagras bunmhaoinithe Gaeilge.
Tá roinnt de na heagrais tar éis díomá a léiriú nár tugadh an deis dóibh breathnú ar an bplean is déanaí atá beartaithe don earnáil roimh chruinniú na Comhairle Aireachta Thuaidh Theas (CATT).
Is é seo an múnla is déanaí atá molta ag Bord Fhoras na Gaeilge ó tugadh treoir don Fhoras sa bhliain 2009 athstruchtúrú a dhéanamh ar an mbealach a gcuirtear maoiniú ar fáil don earnáil bhunmhaoinithe Ghaeilge.
Tá an cuíchóiriú ar na 19 n-eagraíocht dheonacha Gaeilge, atá idir lámha ag Foras na Gaeilge ina cnámh spairne idir iad agus na heagrais ó shin i leith.
Múnla nua Maoinithe
Ag tús na míosa seo scríobh Fóram na nEagras Gaeilge chuig an Aire Stáit Dinny McGinley TD agus chuig an Aire Cultúir ó thuaidh Cáral Ní Chuilín MLA. Léiríodh díomá arís faoin easpa comhairliúcháin ar an múnla is déanaí atá molta ag an bhForas.
Ní bheidh cóip den mhúnla á chur faoi bhráid na n-eagras go dtí go mbeidh sé glanta ag an gCATT amárach in Ard Mhacha.
Dúradh sa litir go raibh an-bhuairt ann “nach raibh aon ionchur ag na heagrais bhunmhaoinithe sa phróiseas seo, próiseas ar a mbeidh impleachtaí tromchúiseacha mar thoradh air don earnáil, do na seirbhísí a sholáthraítear do phobal na Gaeilge agus do thodhchaí na Gaeilge ar oileán na hÉireann”.
Tá gearán ann chomh maith faoin mbealach ar tugadh faoin múnla seo a chur le chéile ó caitheadh an múnla conspóideach eile sna traipisí in earrach na bliana seo.
“ Bíodh is go raibh roinnt cruinnithe aonair, agus cruinnithe téamacha leis na heagrais, is mian leis an bhFóram é a chur ar an taifead nach raibh aon chomhairliúchán ceart déanta leis na heagrais i dtaca le haon mholadh/mholtaí nua maoinithe. Diúltaíodh d’iarratais idir Foras na Gaeilge agus an earnáil bhunmhaoinithe agus diúltaíodh go minic d’iarratais ar eolas breise”.
D’ainneoin sin, is cosúil go bhfuil Foras na Gaeilge ag ullmhú don chéad chéim eile sa phróiseas agus an tseachtain seo caite fuair ceannairí na n-eagras bunmhaoinithe litreacha ag iarraidh ar na heagrais gan conarthaí buana nó fadtéarmacha ar bith a aontú le páirtithe eile.
Anuas air sin, tháinig sé chun solais an tseachtain seo caite nuair a foilsíodh miontuairiscí ón gCoiste Stiúrtha, coiste atá comhdhéanta d’ionadaithe ó Fhoras na Gaeilge agus ionadaithe ó na Ranna Urraíochta, ag an gcruinniú den Choiste sin den 19 Samhain 2012 gur “nótáladh nach raibh aon fhreagracht ar Fhoras na Gaeilge ná ar na Ranna urraíochta maidir le híocaíochtaí iomarcaíochta don fhoireann sna heagrais bhunmhaoinithe”
Cad atá sa mhúnla nua?
Cé go bhfuil diúltaithe ag Foras na Gaeilge aon ábhar i scríbhinn a chur ar fáil go dtí seo maidir leis an múnla nua maoinithe, tuigtear go mbaineann an múnla nua seo le comhpháirtíochtaí a fhorbairt le roinnt eagraíochtaí chun roinnt mór-réimsí oibre straitéiseacha a tha-bhairt chun cinn.
Is cosúil gur roghnaigh Foras na Gaeilge na mór-réimsí oibre seo i gcomhthéacs na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge, na Dréacht-Straitéise le Forbairt na Gaeilge a Chosaint agus a Fhea-bhsú ó thuaidh agus Acht na Gaeltachta 2012.
Tuigtear gurb iad seo a leanas na príomhréimsí atá roghnaithe ag an bhForas ach nach bhfuil siad seo greanta i gcloch.
• Gaeloideachas
• Oideachas trí mheán an Bhéarla agus d’Aosaigh
• Forbairt Pobail
• Forbairt Gréasáin agus Deiseanna Úsáide Gaeilge don Óige
• Imeachtaí Tacaithe agus Úsáide Gaeilge
• Ardú Feasachta Teanga agus Ionadaíocht
Is ar bhonn croímhaoinithe a bheadh na réimsí oibre á maoiniú, agus bheadh de chead ag na príomheagraíochtaí conarthaí seirbhíse a bhronnadh ar eagrais eile do thréimhse nach fada ná 18 mí.
Ní bheadh Foras na Gaeilge ag súil go mbeadh aon chonarthaí seirbhíse fós i bhfeidhm tar éis Eanáir 2015, agus faoin am seo go mbeadh pé taithí, saineolas nó acmhainní a bheadh de dhíth ar fáil laistigh de na sé phríomheagraíocht.
Tuigtear nach bhfuil cuireadh faighte ag aon cheann de na heagrais a fheidhmíonn i dTuais-ceart Éireann amháin chun plé a dhéanamh le Foras na Gaeilge ar fheidhmiú mar phríom-heagraíocht in aon cheann de na sé réimse.
An tSamhail Nua Mhaoinithe
Bhí dhá phróiseas comhairliúcháin poiblí ar mhúnla conspóideach ‘An tSamhail Nua Mhaoinithe’.
I mí Bealtaine 2010, d’fhógair Foras na Gaeilge Samhail Nua Mhaoinithe, a bhí glanta i bprionsabal ag an gComhairle Aireachta Thuaidh/Theas.
Punann scéimeanna a bhí i gceist: scéim raidió áitiúil; scéim na n-ealaíon; scéim oideachais; scéim tacaíochta teaghlaigh; scéim chumasaithe pobal; scéim óige agus scéim abhcóideachta.
Léirigh Fóram na nEagras Gaeilge díomá faoin bhealach ar tugadh faoin gcomhairliúcháin poiblí a reáchtáladh Mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2010 agus nach raibh dóthain ama tugtha d’eagrais agus don phobal páirt a ghlacadh sa phróiseas.
Léirigh na heagrais díomá nach raibh an tsamhail bunaithe ar bhunphrionsabail na pleanála teanga agus go gcruthódh sé iomaíocht ghéar idir eagrais. Chomh maith leis sin léiríodh díomá nach raibh tuiscint ar fhealsúnacht na hearnála deonaí agus ról an tsaorálaí san obair dheonach.
Reáchtáladh próiseas comhairliúcháin breise in earrach na bliana 2012 agus d’fhoilsigh Comhchoiste Oireachais tuarascáil ar an ábhar i mí an Mheithimh 2012.
Sa tuairisc moladh gur cheart bunmhaoiniú a sholáthar do na heagraíochtaí comhpháirtíochta chun soláthar a chothabháil do phobal na Gaeilge. Chomh maith leis sin moladh ann nár cheart go mbeadh scéimeanna á reáchtáil trí thairiscintí iomaíocha.
Luadh sa tuarascáil chomh maith go mbeadh impleachtaí ann do neamhspleáchas na n-eagras faoin tsamhail agus dúradh gur mhéadaigh an tSamhail “an ceannas atá ag Foras na Gaeilge ar a gcuid acmhainní agus laghdaíonn sé neamhspleáchas na n-eagras maoinithe”.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Parental Survey on Cross Border Education
Nollaig 11, 2012
Education in the Border Area – Attitudinal Survey
The North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) brings together Ministers from the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government. Its aim is to develop consultation, cooperation and action within the island of Ireland on matters of mutual interest such as education. Ministers recognise the importance of facilitating parental preference in participation in schools. The change in population on both sides of the border and how this might impact on schools has been noted.
To take forward greater parental preference in schools in the border region, the Council decided to conduct a joint survey to inform cross-border pupil movement and school planning. The purpose of the survey is to provide the best possible indication of how much interest there would be in cross-border primary and post-primary schooling, assuming no restrictions.
This survey is being undertaken in respect of specific students as follows:
families with Junior Infants and/or 6th Class children attending any of the primary schools within 6 miles of the border; and
families with 1st Year children attending any of the post-primary schools within 12 miles of the border.
Our colleagues in the Department of Education Northern Ireland are conducting a similar survey.
We would be grateful if you would fill out the online survey.
The surveys should be submitted by January 18th 2013.
All information collected in the survey will be treated as strictly confidential. Individualized data will not be made available to third parties. Aggregate data will be used only for statistical purposes and to inform policy. Security standards will be implemented to prevent unauthorised access, and it will be subject to the Data Protection Act.
A paper version (in both English and Irish) of the survey is available for anyone who wishes. Please contact Forward Planning section of the Department of Education and Skills at (057) 932 4447 and we will arrange to have one sent out to you.
EDUCATION.IE
Work on gaelscoil to begin next year
Nollaig 11, 2012
The controversial building of a new school on playing fields on Cork’s northside is to go ahead as part of next year’s €370m schools capital programme.
Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn is one of 50 new buildings or extensions which Education Minister Ruairi Quinn announced will go to construction in 2013. Most have already been flagged to go ahead next year as part of a five-year school building programme announced in March.
But the location of the school on part of the 11-acre Tank Field in Mayfield was the subject of potential obstacles at the time, after An Bord Pleanála had overturned an earlier refusal of permission in a vote of Cork City Council members.
Some local residents took a court challenge in September against what they said would be the loss of a right of way through the playing fields because of the project, and subsequent arrangements between the council and the local GAA club which uses the field.
However, Cork Circuit Court rejected their case in October and Mr Quinn has confirmed work on the 16-classroom school should begin next year.
The news brought joy to pupils, parents, and staff of the school, which has operated from prefabs on the grounds of Brian Dillons GAA Club next to the Tank Field for most of its life.
“Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn has been in operation for almost 20 years now and finally we can begin to imagine life in a proper school building with proper facilities for our children,” said principal Deaglán Ó Deargáin and board chair Colm Henry.
“We look forward to progressing with the development of a new school suitable for the education of our children and one which will benefit the whole community.”
Six projects have been brought forward to begin work next year, including an extension to Newpark Comprehensive in Blackrock, Co Dublin, on which construction was not scheduled to begin until at least 2015 according to last March’s list.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said some projects may have progressed if they got through planning faster than anticipated, or if projected student numbers in an area have increased significantly.
The projects include schools being established in the next few years to cater for rising urban populations. Mr Quinn said almost 21,000 of the 25,000 student places to be provided are in extensions or new schools, with the remainder replacing temporary or unsuitable accommodation.
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation said meeting the needs of a rising young population is welcome, but the Government had failed in its responsibility to ensure existing schools are maintained by the withdrawal of grants for minor works.
General secretary Sheila Nunan said the department should ringfence 7.5% of all future capital funding for maintenance of existing school buildings.
Another 53 major school projects were occupied or completed this year and the larger projects listed yesterday will account for €240m of the €370m capital investment in schools.
www.irishexaminer.com
Survey to focus on demand for schooling across the border
Nollaig 11, 2012
Thousands of families in border counties will be surveyed before Christmas on demand for the option of sending their children to school in Northern Ireland.
About 12,000 families in the North were asked to complete a similar survey recently, and the Department of Education will issue its questionnaire here in the coming days.
It is understood that more than 500 children cross the border to go to school every day, most of them travelling north from the Republic.
The survey of demand for more cross-border schooling opportunities was ordered by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn and his northern counterpart, John O’Dowd, in February, as reported at the time by the Irish Examiner.
The North’s department of education sent details to 12,000 homes within 12 miles (19km) of the border in late October. Mr Quinn’s officials have drawn up their own online version, with the families of about 9,000 pupils being notified through their schools.
Parents of children in junior infants and sixth class (or their equivalents) at primary schools six miles either side of the border, and those in first year of secondary schools within 12 miles of the border, are being surveyed.
Among the issues asked about are levels of awareness of the options for cross-border schooling, and the reasons why parents would or would not be interested in having their children educated in the other country.
Families can cite a range of issues they might see as obstacles to doing so, such as lack of places or transport, the different curriculum, costs of books and materials, separating children from friends, or inconvenience for work or child-minding arrangements.
The aim is also to establish parental preferences for school types, under headings such as religious ethos, gender mix, and language of instruction.
The results will inform future joint policy by both governments to facilitate further supports, mainly on issues like planning for school buildings based on projected enrolment growth that might arise from more cross-border education, and transport.
The outcomes are due to be discussed by Mr Quinn and Mr O’Dowd at the North-South Ministerial Council meeting in late Feb 2013. The North’s department of education is analysing responses to its survey, and said it would not release further details before the ministers are briefed.
“The Department of Education and Skills in the south has yet to complete its element of the survey.
“A full report on the information gathered by the whole survey is to be submitted to the North- South Ministerial Council early next year,” said a spokesman.
www.irishexaminer.com
Féile Leabhar na Nollag
Nollaig 11, 2012
Mar chuid de shraith imeachtaí dírithe ar earnáil na foilsitheoireachta Gaeilge a mhéadú, bhí Féile Leabhar na Nollag ar siúl i Halla Uladh, Béal Feirste le déanaí. Ba iad Foras na Gaeilge agus an Chomhairle Ealaíon a bhí ag reachtáil na hócáide speisialta seo agus bhí imeachtaí ar siúl ar feadh an lae do dhaoine óga chomh maith le daoine níos síne. Spreagadh páistí scoile i dtreo na léitheoireachta ar maidin agus bhí neart léachtaí ar siúl i rith an lae chomh maith. Tugadh neart eolais do dhaoine maidir le cén sort leabhair a cheannach, le leabhair ar díol ag go leor foilsitheoirí Gaeilge. Bhí an t-iriseoir ó The Irish News, Robert McMillen, i láthair chomh maith le neart scríbhneoirí eile, Philip Cummings agus Séamus Mac Annaidh ina measc. Bhí an t-imeacht saor in aisce. Féach an físeán ar www.meoneile.ie.
Minister Quinn announces 50 major school building projects as part of €2bn five year plan
Nollaig 10, 2012
Projects to provide over 25,000 permanent school places and 4,000 jobs
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, T.D., has today announced the 50 school projects which are scheduled for construction in 2013.
A €2 billion five-year capital investment programme, launched by Minister Quinn last March, gave details of 275 new major school building projects to begin over the period 2012-2016.
The projects being announced today are part of the five year plan.
Some €370 million will be spent on primary and post-primary infrastructure next year, with a projected expenditure on large scale projects of more than €240 million.
The major projects scheduled to proceed to construction in 2013 comprise:
22 new schools at primary level
12 extensions at primary level
13 new schools at second-level
3 extensions at second-level
Together with ongoing projects from 2012, this means that a total of 113 major school projects will be on site next year.
In addition, the Minister confirmed that a total of 53 major school projects have now reached substantial completion in 2012.
The 2013 construction plan will deliver over 25,000 permanent school places. Of these, almost 21,000 will be additional places and the remainder will replace temporary or unsatisfactory accommodation.
Announcing details of the building programme Minister Quinn said, “These major school projects are great news for communities the length and breadth of the country.
“Alongside the 25,000 permanent school places that are being built, this significant investment will lead to the creation of some 3,400 direct jobs and 680 indirect jobs. This is a welcome boost not only to the construction industry but to the communities where building will take place.”
Minister Quinn continued, “We are facing massive increases in our school going population in the coming years. Total enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by over 70,000 between now and 2017 – over 45,000 at primary level and 25,000 at post primary – and will continue to grow up to at least 2024 at second level.”
“We have to ensure that every child growing up in Ireland can access a place in a classroom when they go to school.
“Today’s announcement is part of the Government’s plan to provide more than 100,000 permanent school places over the course of the five year plan.”
As 2013 progresses, projects scheduled to begin building in 2014/15 will be assessed to see if they are ready to go to construction earlier than planned, and if there is financial scope to do so.
Details of the progress of all major projects listed in the Five Year Plan will continue to be maintained and updated on the Department’s website, www.education.ie
Gaeloideachas
Nollaig 10, 2012
‘Ní ualach an t-oideachas, ach is ualach mór an t-aineolas.’
Ach cad is oideachas ann? Is próiseas é ina bhfoghlaimíonn páiste maireachtáil ar dhóigh shásúil, ag baint suilt as a bhfuil thart timpeall air, ón taobh fisiciúil de, ón taobh cultúrtha de agus ón taobh spioradálta de.
Ag an am seo den bhliain, tá tuismitheoirí ag smaoineamh ar an sórt oideachais ba mhaith leo a bpáistí a fháil. Ba chóir don chóras oideachais an páiste a dhéanamh réidh do shaol atá níos lú, do shaol idirnáisiúnta, do shaol ina bhfuil daoine ag taisteal níos mó. Tá scileanna de dhíth anois nach raibh chomh tábhachtach sin roinnt blianta ó shin.
Aontaíonn achan duine go bhfuil na teangacha an-tábhachtach sa lá atá inniu ann. Maidir leis seo, tá deis ag páistí i nDoire agus Inis Eoghain tús maith a dhéanamh ina gcuid oideachais, agus líofacht a fháil in dhá theanga taobh istigh de chúpla bliain.
Tá trí Ghaelscoil i nDoire a bhfuil naíscoil acu chomh maith: Bunscoil Cholmcille, Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir , agus Gaelscoil na Daróige; tá Gaelscoil cois Feabhail i mBun an Phobail, tá Gaelscoil i mBun Cranncha, agus tá Gaelscoil Adhamhnáin i Leitir Ceanainn. Tá Gaelscoil i Léim an Mhadaidh agus i nDún Geimhin, agus Gaelscoileanna eile ar an Srath Bán, ar an Ómaigh, i Machaire Fíolta agus i Machaire Rátha. Agus tá naíscoil i gCarn Domhnach.
Tugann dhá theanga muinín do pháiste, osclaíonn siad a aigne, agus baineann seisean sult as an éacht. Is féidir tús a chur le teanga eile sa mheánscoil, ach go minic, tá sin rómhall. Is féidir beagán de theanga eile a theagasc do dhaltaí sa bhunscoil, tríd an mháthairtheanga.
Ach má fhoghlaimíonn páistí an dara theanga trí thumoideachas, éiríonn siad líofa go luath agus go nádúrtha. Téann siad ó theanga amháin go teanga eile gan smaoineamh. Cuireann siad suim i dteangacha eile. Tá dul chun cinn iontach déanta ag an Ghaeloideachas: tá sé ar fáil i ngach contae in Éirinn anois.
Tá thart fá 50 meánscoil agus 200 bunscoil lán-Ghaeilge ag feidhmiú taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht. Bá chóir do thuismitheoirí an cheantair dianmhachnamh a dhéanamh ar an chóras oideachas seo a bhfuil fás thar chuimse air ar fud na tíre.
Má tá suim agat sa Ghaeloideachas déan coinne le do Ghaelscoil áitiúil. Beidh an fhoireann breá sásta ceist ar bith a fhreagairt.
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