Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2020
285. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans in cases in which a school participating in Scéim Aitheantas do Scoileanna Gaeltachta has a majority of the teaching staff who are not competent to deliver their respective subjects through the medium of Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3386/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme (Scéim Aitheantas Scoileanna Gaeltachta), which was launched in April 2017, provided schools in Gaeltacht language-planning areas with the option to join the Scheme, on the basis of implementing specific language-based criteria and on condition that they were participating in the language-planning processes provided for under the Gaeltacht Act, 2012.
The requirements for joining the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme were set out in Circulars 0033/2017 (primary schools) and 0034/2017 (post-primary schools) and in subsequent circulars issued to schools annually on the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme. Schools expressing an interest in participating in the Scheme were required, through their self-evaluation processes, to develop an action plan for improvement relative to their school context to outline how the school would progress towards compliance with the language-based criteria to strengthen Irish-medium educational provision in the Gaeltacht. In advance of completing the Expression of Interest Form for participation in the Scheme, the board of management was required to liaise with its school community and the local language-planning committee to inform its decision to join the Scheme.
A package of additional supports continues to be provided to support all schools participating in the Scheme. These supports include: additional professional development for teachers provided by Higher Education Institutions and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), Inspectorate advisory visits, additional Irish-language teaching support hours, guides on immersion education, and annual grants for Irish-medium resources.
The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school board of management/Education and Training Board (ETB), subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012).
In accordance with Department Circulars 0044/2019 and 31/2011, schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers. Schools should ensure that personnel appointed to teach have qualifications appropriate to the sector and are suitable to the post for which they are employed. This includes an appropriate level of proficiency in the Irish language in order to carry out teaching duties effectively.
The principal of the school, with the support of the board, is responsible for promoting the professional development of teachers in line with the changing priority needs of the school. Schools can access a range of continuing professional development opportunities provided by national support services, higher-education institutes and/or local education centres. It is also a matter for each individual teacher employed in a school to engage with such professional development supports to ensure that all pupils have access to high quality Irish-medium education, in accordance with the overarching aim of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022.
In instances where the majority of the teaching staff are not competent to deliver their respective subjects through the medium of Irish, the onus is on the school to put in place a professional development plan to support and upskill teachers in the Irish language and in immersion education methodologies.
