English in gaelscoileanna directive delay

A DIRECTIVE to all-Irish schools from Education Minister Mary Hanafin that they must begin teaching English to children no later than the second term of junior infants is not to be issued until after the election.

Following angry reaction to her planned circular letter on the issue, revealed last week in the Irish Examiner, the minister has decided to meet the relevant organisations on the matter before sending out instructions.

The instruction to the 270 Gaelscoils and Gaeltacht primary schools would mean many of them would have to end a practice of total immersion in Irish for pupils which is used through to the end of senior infants in many cases. The minister had reached the decision following an examination of complaints from parents at a Kerry Gaelscoil where children were not taught English in junior infants.