Call to alter Leaving Cert Irish syllabus

TDs and senators are to seek changes to the Irish Leaving Certificate syllabus to cater for students in all-Irish schools, after hearing their rights are being denied by recent amendments to the marking scheme.

Anna Ní Ghallachair, chair of Meitheal na Gaeilge which represents Irish language schools organisations, told the Oireachtas Education Committee that aspects of the revised marks for Irish are scandalous. Although the emphasis on the spoken language, by increasing the proportion of marks from 25% to 40% from the 2012 Leaving Certificate, is welcome, she said it is disgraceful that only half of those marks will be awarded for free conversation.

The move, initiated in 2006 by previous education minister Mary Hanafin, has drawn criticism from those representing Gaeltacht schools and Gaelcholáistí, who claim there is not enough emphasis on the language’s rich literary culture. Their proposal for an additional subject on the history and cultural heritage of Irish – Litríocht agus Saíocht na Gaeilge – was rejected this year by Education Minister Mary Coughlan, but she has asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to review the revised syllabus at the earliest opportunity.

The committee, chaired by Green Party TD and education spokesperson Paul Gogarty, agreed to write to the minister seeking the introduction of the additional subject, which they were told would be similar to stronger maths students being allowed to study applied maths. Ms Coughlan rejected it on grounds it might be perceived as giving an unfair advantage to native speakers of Irish if they were to get additional points for college entry for a new subject.

The committee heard that there are now just around 1,000 children who are native speakers in our primary schools, even though 9,500 pupils attend 140 primary schools in Gaeltacht regions, including those in Cork, Kerry and Waterford.

“These children are the future of the language and need support in the schools, but because there’s no definition of a Gaeltacht school or policies on Irish-medium education, their needs are being ignored,” said Muireann Ní Mhóráin, chief executive of Comhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta.

She told the committee that the primary curriculum is a disgrace for Irish-speaking children because it does not allow for them to achieve the same standards as those expected for other children in English. The committee agreed to ask Ms Coughlan to ensure representatives of the all-Irish education sector be consulted in any review of the primary curriculum.

Ms Ní Mhóráin said only around 40 Gaeltacht primary schools with 2,200 pupils are in regions where at least 70% of the local population speak Irish on a daily basis.