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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Jul 1990

Vol. 401 No. 6

Written Answers. - Teaching of Foreign Languages.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

19 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Education her views on whether the level and extent of foreign language teaching in schools is adequate; if she has any plans to ensure a wider provision of language courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

I have at all times made clear to school management, teachers, parents and business interests the importance of languages for our young people.

In 1988 I had a survey carried out of the extent to which teachers qualified in modern languages were underutilised. I followed this up with the introduction of a scheme for the payment of part-time teaching hours to those schools who introduced an additional modern continental language into their curricula.

To cater for senior pupils who wished to begin the study of a language ab initio but who were not in a position to take on the leaving certificate course, I decided that, where schools so wished, senior cycle pupils could be permitted to follow the intermediate certificate course in French, German, Spanish or Italian and be allowed sit the intermediate certificate examination paper in the language studied at the time of sitting their leaving certificate examination.

I also arranged for foreign language modules to be offered in VPT courses.

I am happy to say that these initiatives have been most successful. The number of schools providing German, for example, increased by one-third from 1987-88 to 1988-89 and the number increased further for 1989-90. The number of post-primary schools now offering two continental languages has increased by 63 per cent since 1985-86.

Action is currently being taken in relation to the implementation of the Lingua programme under the auspices of the European Community. This programme, which will be operational next year, involves, inter alia, in-service training for teachers in the country of the target language and student and teacher exchange. I am confident that this will ensure the wider provision of language teaching and learning in second-level schools.

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