Written Answers. - Irish Language Teaching.
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:
79
Proinsias De Rossa
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
his views on the teaching of Irish at primary and second level; the reasons for the consistently poor examination results in this subject; and his views on the extent to which the course content and breadth contributes to low levels of fluency and lack of motivation among students.
[6971/01]
The revised primary school curriculum (1999) includes a new curriculum for Irish. Of the 11 subjects on the primary curriculum, Irish is the only subject which has been totally rewritten. It reflects the most up-to-date methods on the teaching of Irish as a second language and places emphasis on the development of communication skills within a broad cultural context. The curriculum aims to cultivate Irish as a living language within the classroom, the school and the wider community.
Under the primary curriculum support programme, a substantial in-service programme for primary teachers on the Irish curriculum began in September 2000 and will continue on a phased basis until June 2003. The aim of the programme is to further develop teachers' competence and confidence in using Irish as well as familiarising them with the most modern language teaching methods. It is anticipated that this work will be complemented by measures which will ensure that teachers have ongoing access to a range of initiatives to support them in their language teaching work in schools. The response of teachers to the curriculum has been very positive. They have indicated that both content and meth odology are appropriate to the needs and interests of children in today's world.
At second level, in order to cater for the wide range of needs among the cohort, Irish is offered at three levels for the junior certificate and the established leaving certificate: ardleibhéal, gnáthleibhéal and bonnleibhéal. Irish is taught as part of the leaving certificate applied course. The syllabi, like those in the modern European languages on the curriculum, cater for the development of the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. They seek to develop these in a balanced way in accordance with the educational needs of students at the different levels. The syllabi in Irish and in the modern European languages are underpinned by the same general principles. They involve approaches and methodologies that are accepted and employed by language teachers internationally. Ongoing in-service training has been made available to teachers in relation to the teaching methods and approaches involved in the syllabi in Irish at the various levels.
Because of the many variables involved, one must be cautious in attempting to draw conclusions from statistical information relating to examination results. The student cohorts vary from year to year and from subject to subject. The test items used vary also. The special working group on Irish, which was set up in 1999 to look into the performance of candidates in junior certificate, has submitted an interim report on its work to date. The group's analysis states that results in junior certificate Irish in the years under consideration are not out of line with results obtained in a wide range of junior certificate subjects. Results obtained in Irish in the leaving certificate in recent years are broadly in line with result patterns in modern European languages.
Since the introduction of the revised syllabi in Irish for junior certificate and leaving certificate, there has been an appreciable increase in the numbers of candidates taking those examinations at the higher level by comparison with the former intermediate and leaving certificate examinations.
In line with its statutory function of keeping the school curricula under review, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has initiated a wide-ranging review of Irish at second level.
I am now establishing a body of persons as provided for in section 31 of the Education Act, 1998. That body will engage in research and planning and provide advice in relation to the teaching of Irish and to teaching through the medium of Irish. I hope to be in a position to make an announcement about this shortly.
I am strongly committed to doing all that is necessary to ensure that our young people are motivated to learn Irish and that it is presented to them in a way that is in line with international best practice in language teaching.
