asked the Minister for Education whether any applications have been received from managers of national schools in the English-speaking districts for permission to use the home language of the children as the medium of instruction in the infants' classes with Irish as a subject of instruction; and, if so, whether the applications have been acceded to.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Use of English in Infants' Classes.
The answer to the first part of the Deputy's question is in the affirmative. Such applications have been acceded to only in cases where the teachers at present in charge of the infants' classes are not competent to do the work through Irish alone.
It must be borne in mind that neither reading nor writing is prescribed in the programme for infants in either Irish or English, that the main work of the teacher of infants' classes is language teaching (oral), and that the kindergarten occupations, drawing, songs, and games, are used largely as ancillary to the language lessons.
Will the Minister consider giving similar permission in respect of infants' schools where the infants do not know the language, in view of the fact that he has extended this permission where the teachers are not familiar with the language, or does he think it is possible for teachers who know the language to instruct children through a medium which the children do not understand?
The Deputy should read the programme of the primary schools and he will see that teachers are expected to teach Irish in the infant classes only where they are sufficiently qualified to do so.
Is it not a fact that the Minister has excused certain teachers from teaching Irish in the infant classes and that in all infant classes in the ordinary primary schools they are compelled to use Irish exclusively?
I have excused no teachers in infant classes where I consider that they were sufficiently qualified to teach Irish.