Gaeltacht schools want exam changes postponed

GAELTACHT schools are seeking postponement of changes to the Leaving Certificate Irish exam which they feel will not challenge or reward native speaker students.

The 28 second-level schools represented by Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta (ESG) are concerned the existing syllabus already results in students brought up through Irish reaching higher standards in Leaving Certificate English than they do in their mother tongue.

However, they fear revised marking under a new Leaving Certificate syllabus, including 40% of all marks going for the oral speaking test and a much reduced focus on Irish literature, will further impact on standards.

The changed syllabus will be taught to students starting fifth year in September and be examined for the first time at the 2012 Leaving Certificate. It was announced by previous education minister Mary Hanafin in 2007 with the intention of boosting student interest in Irish by switching focus to the spoken language.

However, ESG chief executive Treasa Ní Mhainín said the new syllabus should be held back until the Government has finalised its 20-year strategy on the language, which will focus largely on education.

“There should be a second syllabus for students brought up through Irish at home and in school, something that was recommended many years ago. It happens in many other countries, Wales being the closest to home, where some students learn through their native language,” she said.

“The Government is putting the cart before the horse by introducing changes before completing the Irish language strategy,” Ms Ní Mhainín said.

A 2003 discussion paper on Irish language provision for the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment described having a single syllabus as “the worst of both worlds” because it offers the minority of native speakers the equivalent of a foreign language syllabus and places unrealistic demands on other students.

Education Minister Mary Coughlan said last month she would discuss the Irish-language school’s concerns with Gaeltacht Minister Pat Carey, who has voiced concerns about the reduced level of literature and prose which students must read in the revised curriculum.