Most Junior Cert students not taught enough Gaeilge, says report

TWO-THIRDS of students are not taught enough Irish in preparation for the Junior Certificate despite recommendations of five classes a week.

The finding is one of many causes of concern about the teaching of Irish at junior cycle of second-level schools raised in a report by Department of Education inspectors. They visited 75 schools in 2005 and while many good practices by schools and teachers are highlighted, a number of problems were also discovered.

Inspectors found an over-reliance on translation, too much time spent by teachers talking Irish instead of students, and very little use of information and communication technology in the teaching of the language.