Parents and teachers divided over Hanafin directive for all-Irish schools

A MAJOR row has erupted between parents and schools over proposed changes to rules on the teaching of English in all-Irish schools.

The Gaelscoileanna organisation reacted angrily to news that Education Minister Mary Hanafin is to tell member schools they must begin teaching English no later than the second term of junior infants.

The directive will effectively ban a policy of total immersion in Irish, used up to the end of senior infants in many of the country’s 163 gaelscoileanna and 150 Gaeltacht primary schools.

Parents have welcomed the decision, which is contrary to the advice of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to Ms Hanafin, in February, that schools have a choice of when they begin teaching English — up to the second term of senior infants. Her decision is based on her belief that children should be taught a second language for 30 minutes a day from as early an age as possible, applying equally to Irish classes in English-language primary schools.

Gaelscoileanna said Ms Hanafin should instead follow the NCCA recommendation for further research on the issue.

The group’s chief executive Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin said: “This action is not only ill-advised, but has no educational, expert or linguistic basis to it. It contradicts the State’s own policy on language preservation, in that it places a barrier on the most effective way of promoting the language in this country, through the practice of total immersion education.”

Foras na Gaeilge called on Ms Hanafin to give all-Irish schools the option of delaying teaching English until first class. Chief executive Ferdie Man an Fhailigh said: “Further research is required into the models proposed by the NCCA so we can ensure we are choosing the best approach to the teaching of English in Irish-medium schools.”

The National Parents Council-Primary said it was a source of concern that some all-Irish schools have denied some children access to the full curriculum by not teaching English to infants and other junior classes.

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation said there had been no consultation with the union and Ms Hanafin should reconsider the rushed action.