Every junior cycle student to take formal oral test in Irish
It is one of three subject areas in which a new curriculum is being introduced, following the rollout since 2014 of the revised English course and similar changes for junior cycle science and business studies from last year.
Up to now, oral Irish was optional in the Junior Certificate but most students were not examined as there was teacher union opposition to the test not being assessed centrally by State Examinations Commission (SEC) examiners.
