Coughlan hints at further changes to Leaving Cert Irish

CHANGES may be considered to a new Irish Leaving Certificate curriculum which places more emphasis on the spoken language because of anger in all-Irish schools, Education Minister Mary Coughlan has hinted.

The Tánaiste was responding to concerns raised by cabinet colleague Pat Carey about a reduced level of literature and prose in the revised course, which will be taught from next autumn and examined at Leaving Certificate level from 2012.

In an effort to boost student interest and oral proficiency in the language, previous education minister Mary Hanafin announced in 2007 that increased marks would be awarded for oral Irish in state exams.

The oral tests are currently worth 25% of total marks in the subject at Leaving Certificate and 20% at Junior Certificate, although less than a dozen schools give the option of oral Irish for the earlier exam.

But the changes have been strongly opposed by those in the Gaeltacht who fear it will not be fair to native speakers being unable to demonstrate their strong understanding of the language.

They would prefer an option of a different curriculum that would allow daily users of the language to show their skills.

Mr Carey, a former primary school teacher, moved to Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs in the cabinet reshuffle in March.

He was recently reported as saying that Gaeltacht communities are concerned that the course will not challenge students from Irish-speaking homes, and that the amount of literature required under the new syllabus could almost be memorised without being understood.

Ms Coughlan said she has already met the minister on the matter and plans to discuss it with him formally at a later stage.

“I’ve been briefed by a lot of people on the issue. Clearly the focus in any curricular development or change is that, at the end of the day, it’s fair to everyone as opposed to being [for] one side or the other,” she said.

“I’d prefer not to say too much about it as of yet. I’m going to consider the views that have been expressed by Minister Pat Carey on that curriculum development and we need time ourselves [in the Department of Education] to assimilate those thoughts,” the Tánaiste said.