Hanafin intercedes in school’s controversial language policy

EDUCATION Minister Mary Hanafin has intervened in the bitter row over the policy under which subjects are taught through Irish in a new school in Dingle, Co Kerry.

Critically, the minister said provision must be made for students who have no Irish, or whose Irish is too weak for them to learn through Irish.

Some parents and students have been protesting against the controversial policy at the 470-student Pobal Scoil Chorca Dhuibhne (PCD), which opened in late August and replaces two former secondary schools in the Gaeltacht town.

Ms Hanafin stressed she was anxious to ensure the school continued to guarantee an education through the medium of Irish to students from the Gaeltacht and from Irish-speaking homes who wished to be educated through Irish.

Equally, she said, the new community school should make a contribution to the maintenance of Irish as the primary community language. But, Ms Hanafin said: “Provision also has to be made for those who have no Irish at all or those who, because their Irish is too weak, are unable to learn in classes conducted exclusively through ... Irish.”

The minister has also asked the chairman of the Commission on School Accommodation, Frank Murray, to survey all parents and students in the school to establish the level of teaching required through Irish or English.

The survey will be carried out soon after this week’s mid-term break.

Upwards of 100 students took part in a recent, two-day protest outside the school, while parents seeking to have their children taught through English have held a number of meetings in the area.

Concerned Parents of Chorca Dhuibhne said while they did not support the protests, they understood why students sitting in classrooms and unable to learn through Irish were frustrated. In the former Presentation Convent and Christian Brothers’ schools in Dingle subjects were taught through both Irish and English.

However, the board of management at the new school sought to ‘regularise’ the situation, having regard to the law that Gaeltacht people are entitled to education through Irish.

School principal Padraig Firtear said efforts were being made to help students with their Irish and extra supports were available to students who needed help.

He said teaching in third, fifth and sixth year classes was bilingual — 75% in Irish and 25% in English.