Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018
277. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if assistance can be provided to a group (details supplied) in County Louth that is providing language supports to Lithuanian students preparing for the leaving certificate examinations. [12886/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2017 I launched 'Languages Connect', Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017-2026. One of the aims of the strategy is to support the languages of immigrant communities in Ireland, including the Lithuanian community. Sustaining the language capacity of these speakers will support the growth of language competencies which is sought by this Strategy. I discussed some of these matters with the Lithuanian Minister for Education when she visited Ireland earlier this month.
Support for foreign languages begins in primary school. The Primary Language Curriculum recognises that “most schools and classrooms include children whose home language is a language other than English or Irish.” Proficiency in their home language contributes to these children’s development of proficiency in the language of instruction.
My Department is supporting specific developments directed at the Lithuanian community in Ireland. At junior cycle level, short courses are a new way in which students from immigrant communities can be supported in enhancing their fluency and in developing the range of competences in their home language. My Department's Post Primary Languages Initiative (PPLI) has been working with embassies to develop these courses in students’ home languages, drawing on guidelines provided by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). Work is currently underway in the development of a 100-hour short course in Lithuanian for junior cycle. This is being progressed by the PPLI in conjunction with the Lithuanian Embassy in Ireland. This course is due to be implemented on a pilot basis in a number of schools from September 2018.
At senior cycle the Foreign Languages Strategy commits to developing and introducing Lithuanian as a curriculum subject. It is currently available as a non-curriculum subject. With the introduction of a curriculum specification, candidates will be examined, not just on written but on oral and aural competencies also. The specification will be aimed at heritage speakers of the language.
