(An Clár) asked the Minister for Education if teachers in the English speaking districts are permitted to use English in the infants' classes in the National Schools; if so, whether he can state the official programme for English for such classes, whether the teaching of this programme is subject to inspection, and, if so, whether the reports of the Inspectors are considered satisfactory?
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - English in National Schools.
I would refer the Deputy to the programme for infants in National Schools and the introductory notes, pages 22-24 inclusive, of the Report and Programme of the National Programme Conference—a copy of which I am sending him.
The provisions of this programme require that the work of the infants' classes between the hours of 10.30 a.m. and 2 p.m. is to be entirely in Irish where the teachers are sufficiently qualified, and the aim to be achieved is stated to be the gradual extension of the use of Irish in the teaching of infants until in all schools the work of the infant classes will be entirely in Irish. To meet the actual conditions existing and the circumstances of a period of transition, the programme also provides that a teacher who is able to teach Irish but unable to use Irish as a medium of instruction, is to teach the language as a subject for one hour a day at least, and is to use Irish as much as possible as the school language. In such a case English would be used in varying degrees in the teaching of subjects (other than Irish), viz., Kindergarten, Arithmetic, etc.
The programme does not contemplate the teaching of English as a subject in infants' classes during the hours indicated, and there is no official programme for English in these classes. Consequently the remaining part of the Deputy's question does not arise.
I geionn tamaill, nuair a bheidh na páistí seo in a dTeachtaí, an mbeidh cead acu ceisteanna do chur anso as Bearla?
Is do Dáil an cheist sin do reidhteach. Ní feidir liomsa aon gheall a thabhairt anois. B'feidir go rachadh an Teachta i gcomhairle leis an gCeann Comhairle mar gheall ar sin.