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.