Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 February 2023
201. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education the measures being taken to improve the learning of foreign languages in secondary school given Eurostat figures, which show Ireland to have the second lowest level of foreign language learning in the EU and a decline since 2013 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5694/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that Languages Connect, Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education was published in November 2017 and aims to increase and diversify the range of foreign languages taught and learned across the education system.
Since the launch of Languages Connect, the % of post primary schools offering at least two foreign languages has increased from 72.3% in 2017 to 76% in 2021 and the number of schools offering two or more foreign languages as part of Transition Year has increased from 55.5% in 2017 to 59.4% in 2021.
The number of students taking a leaving certificate examination in a foreign language has increased steadily from 39,534 (70.8%) in 2012 to 44,282 (73.6%) in 2022. At Junior Cycle level, the number of students taking a foreign language examination (French, German, Spanish and Italian) increased from 51,361 in 2012 to 56,225 in 2022. This is a decrease in overall percentage terms from 87.4% in 2012 to 83.8% in 2022.
Under the first implementation plan 2017 – 2022 much progress has been made.
- Four new Leaving Certificate curricula have been introduced: Lithuanian, Mandarin Chinese, Polish and Portuguese. These were examined for the first time in summer 2022 and 1,451 students were examined (191 Lithuanian, 291 Mandarin Chinese, 824 Polish and 145 Portuguese). This has increased the number of Leaving Certificate curricular languages available to 11.
- In the 2021/22 school year, almost 430 primary schools participated in a 6 week taster module “Say Yes to Languages”. This year almost 720 primary schools are participating over an 8 week period using 15 different languages selected by the school depending on their individual context. One of the aims of this project is to promote the uptake of foreign languages at post primary level.
- The NCCA have recently submitted the draft Primary Curriculum Framework to me and this includes the introduction of foreign languages from 3rd class at primary level.
- Post Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI) are fully funded by the Department and are charged with implementation of a significant number of actions under the Languages Connect Strategy and they have made great strides in promoting languages including for example the #Thinklanguages event for TY students which in 2022 was attended by 15,000 TY students and aims to encourage students to study a foreign language for Senior Cycle. PPLI are now planning the first Languages Summit in October this year.
- The Department, through PPLI, have funded foreign language teacher upskilling, school exchanges and school libraries and have developed a dedicated Languages Connect website: languagesconnect.ie
- Information on further study and career options related to languages has been built into the Careersportal website and information packs have been provided to all Guidance Counsellors.
- UCC has introduced a new upskilling programme for Spanish Teachers funded by the Department.
- PPLI in collaboration with Maynooth University are rolling out a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) project i.e. learning a language through another subject.
- The number of Foreign Language Assistants available for schools has been increased from 110 to 180 under the strategy and will further increase to at least 220 by 2026.
Implementation of Languages Connect strategy is overseen by the Foreign Languages Advisory Committee (FLAG).
My Department has commenced a review of the Languages Connect Strategy and will be developing a second Implementation Plan for the period 2023 – 2026 in consultation with stakeholders.
