Minister to allow gaelscoils delay teaching of English

EDUCATION Minister Batt O’Keeffe is to overturn a controversial directive by his predecessor Mary Hanafin that gaelscoil pupils must be taught English from their second term in junior infants.

Ms Hanafin’s circular letter to schools in July 2007 was strongly opposed by many of the country’s 300-plus all-Irish primary schools, some of which teach pupils no English until senior infants or first class. The policy of total early immersion in a second language is backed by international research which points to subsequent educational benefits, and the directive went against the recommendation of the statutory curriculum body that schools be allowed continue existing policies until further research was carried out here.

A High Court challenge against the directive initiated in late 2007 was due for hearing next week, but the minister has now decided to withdraw the circular. Instead, the Department of Education plans to prescribe the primary curriculum by regulation and pay the legal costs of plaintiffs Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn in Tralee, Co Kerry, Gaelscoil Nás na Rí in Naas, Co Kildare and An Foras Pátrúnachta, patron body to 57 all-Irish primary schools.