Irish language standards in schools
Micheál Martin raises falling Irish standards in schools and cites inspector findings. The Education Minister says primary Irish performance is a concern and points to new curricula and teacher support.
De réir Phríomhchigire an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna, tá an caighdeán sa Ghaeilge ag laghdú bliain i ndiaidh bliana, go háirithe ó 2013 amach. Níl dul chun cinn sásúil le feiscint sa Ghaeilge sna bunscoileanna ar fud na tíre. Bhí 26% de na ceachtanna a dhearnadh iniúchadh orthu gan chruinneas agus míshasúil de réir an Phríomhchigire. Gealladh sa chlár Rialtais go gcuirfidh an Rialtas an straitéis 20 bliain i bhfeidhm, go méadóidh líon na gcainteoirí Gaeilge dá bharr agus go mbeidh an Ghaeilge níos sofheicthe i gcúrsaí litríochta agus ar chomarthaí ar fud tuaithe agus sna bailte go léir ar fud na tíre. Bhí díomá ar an-chuid daoine nuair a léigh siad an méid a bhí le rá ag an bPríomhchigire. Cá seasann na gealltanais sa chlár Rialtais anois i leith an mhéid a dúirt an Príomhchigire sa tuarascáil maidir leis an nGaeilge agus a múineadh sna scoileanna?
Comment on this
I acknowledge that the report on Irish was different from those in the other subjects where we saw consistent improvement, in English, in mathematics etc. In relation to Irish, there was an improvement at second level but no improvement at primary level and this is a cause of concern raised by the inspector.
In terms of the policy to address this, we have new curricula at both primary level and junior cycle. Currently, we are investing in the support of teachers to adopt these new curricula. They have a much higher emphasis on the communicated language and the oral language, and that is strongly advised as being a key route to improve performance in this area. In addition, we are investing in new routes to both improve the existing skills of teachers, with masters qualifications being tendered for, additional resources in NUIG to support such improvement and a new undergraduate route into post-primary teaching of Irish. These policies are being implemented but, based on those findings yesterday, we will be consulting more widely to ensure the policies we have in place are adequate to address this problem.