Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
959. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the details of the way that the new Junior Certificate Irish curriculum was designed; if any Irish language teachers were included as a stakeholder group; the other persons who were part of the course design; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43668/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s (NCCA) development of subject specifications is carried out by representative development groups. The Subject Development Group (Meitheal Forbartha) for Junior Cycle Irish comprised a range of key stakeholders with expertise and experience in the learning, teaching and assessment of Irish, including practising teachers of Irish. The development group consisted of representatives from the teacher unions, management bodies, An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), Comhar na Múinteoirí Gaeilge (the Irish Teachers Subject Association at the time), the National Parents Council Post-Primary, my Department and the State Examinations Commission.
In developing subject specifications for Junior Cycle Irish, the development group had an effective interface with the teaching profession, the realities of classrooms and schools and the views of the education partners generally. Development group members ensured that the views/policy of the nominating body were part of discussions on the development of the specifications, as they were drafted.
An important element of the development process was a public consultation. Feedback was sought in 2015 on a common specification for Junior Cycle Irish, from teachers, students, educational and Irish language stakeholders as well as the general public through online surveys, a consultation event, submissions and focus groups with second level students and students from various Initial Teacher Education contexts. 38% of respondents to the online surveys identified themselves specifically as múinteoirí Gaeilge at post-primary level. A key theme that emerged in the feedback from the consultation was the demand for differentiated specifications L1 and L2 for Junior Cycle Irish leading to the development of the current Language 1 (L1) and Language 2 (L2) specifications.
While NCCA Council is responsible for the approval of all curriculum and assessment advice, its decision-making is informed by deliberations at Board level. Boards review each draft subject specification and consultation report in the context of wider work in that sector, discuss significant issues as they emerge and, as appropriate, respond to themes emerging from consultations. It is in this context that a decision was made not to proceed with a common subject specification for Junior Cycle Irish, as previously planned, but to create two separate specifications, one (L1) which would cater to the needs of native speakers and learners of Irish in Gaeltacht schools and students in the Irish-medium sector Gaelcholáistí and Irish-medium units more generally, and a second (L2) aimed at students who use the Irish language as a second language mainly in schools which operate through the medium of English.
The L1 and L2 specifications for Junior Cycle Irish were introduced in schools in 2017 as part of Phase 3 of the roll out of the Framework for Junior Cycle. All students who started Junior Cycle from Autumn 2017 onwards are learning Irish as laid out in these new specifications. However, due to the impact of the Covid19 pandemic on teaching and learning in 2020, 2021 and 2022, no cohort of students has yet experienced these specifications as envisaged.
Responding to requests received from stakeholders through the recent consultation on draft specifications L1 and L2 for Leaving Certificate Irish, NCCA Council decided to undertake a review of the early implementation of Irish, L1 and L2, in Junior Cycle. This review will provide an opportunity for teachers and students to share their insights, experiences and views on the implementation of Junior Cycle Irish specifications to date. A report on the early implementation of Irish, L1 and L2, in Junior Cycle is currently being finalised by NCCA and will be published in the coming months.
