Irish in the Primary School 24/3/08
INTO Press Release: Statement by Angela Dunne, INTO President, on Irish in the Primary School
24 March 2008Des Bishop has done more for Irish than the Education Minister
INTO President Angela Dunne today attacked Education Minister Mary Hanafin for her decision to ban immersion education in Irish language primary schools (gaelscoileanna). Ms Dunne said that at a time when the language required every possible support it was incredible that the Minister would move to outlaw one of the successful innovations in Irish education.
She said far from banning the practice the Minister should be encouraging innovation in education. “Des Bishop has done more recently to promote the Irish language than the Education Minister,” she said.
She said the decision of the Minister to send out a letter to schools was over-turning a long established practice in gaelscoileanna. “This decision angered and amazed teachers,” she said.
“In doing so the Minister has ignored the advice of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment on this matter,” said Ms Dunne. The NCCA recommended that four models of immersion education be researched in an Irish context and decisions be made on the basis of that research. “It is not good enough,” said Ms Dunne, “for an education Minister to look into her own heart and decide what is best for Irish education.”
She also strongly criticised the Minister’s failure to deliver promised resources to support the Irish language in the form of the Education Centre in Baile Bhuirne Co Cork. “Neither have the positions promised to An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) been filled,” she said.
Ní dóigh lom go ndeara Aire hAinnifín móran chun brón a bhaint de chroithe múinteroirí i roinnt mhaith scoileanna lan Ghaeilge. Chuir se ionadh an domhain oirainn anuraidh nuair a chin an tAire Ciorclán a sheoladh amach chuig na scoileanna ag cur deire leis an geleachtas tumoideachas luath iomlán atá i bhfeidhm i gcuid mhaith de na scoileanna le blianta fada anuas.
Chuir sé díomá orainn nár ghlac an tAire le comhairle an NCCA a mhol gur ceart treoirlínte a ullmhú do cheithre mhúnla éagsúil agus taighde a dhéanamh sna scoileanna a bhaineann úsáid as na múnlaí éagsúla. Tá géarghá le taighde ar an tumoideachas sa chomhthéacs Éireannach. Go dtí seo táimid ag brath go mór ar an taighde idirnáisiúnta ar an gceist seo. Ba cheart dúinn tógáil ar an traidisiún láidir atá againn sa tír agus cur leis an taighde idirnáisiúnta atá ar fáil. Iarraimid ar an Aire an ciorclán seo a tharraingt siar.
Baile Bhúirne
Chuir sé áthas orainn nuair a d’fhógair an tAire bliain ó shoin go raibh sé i gceist aice dul ar aghaidh le hAchmhainn Tacaíochta agus Forbartha don Ghaeilge i mBaile Bhúirne. Dúirt an tAire ag an am go dtabharfadh an Acmhainn seo tacaíocht do straitéis náisiúnta ar son na Gaeilge agus go gcuirfidh sé léi ag gach leibhéal den chóras oideachais. Dúirt sí freisin go bhfostófaí ceathrar breise agus go mbeadh milliún Euro breise le tabhairt do COGG thar tréimhse trí bliana chun tacaíocht a thabhairt do mhúinteoirí an Ghaeilge a mhúineadh agus le áiseanna a sholáthar do mhúinteoirí atá ag múineadh trí mheán na Gaeilge. Ach mo léan géar, bliain níos déanaí níl an ceathrar seo fostaithe fós agus níl an buiséad breise tugtha do COGG. Ábhar díomá eile.
ENDS.