Hanafin’s order should be resisted

WHO does Education Minister Mary Hanafin think she is in issuing an order to all Gaelscoileanna that they must teach English to all of their students. Compulsory English!

This is worse than the misguided educational policy enunciated by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny in a bid to win popular support before the last general election when he stated that all pupils following the Junior Certificate need not bother to study Irish further unless they wanted to.

What a shortsighted policy, just when the Irish language is turning the corner and the Gaelscoileanna are proving to be one of the great success stories in the campaign to spread the use of our native language

If I were in charge of a Gaelscoil, I would ignore the irresponsible mouthings of Ms Hanafin and seek her immediate resignation.

Irish was my first language. I had to learn English from my playmates long before I went to school.

Of course, every boy and girl should learn English — the language of Shakespeare and the most widely spoken language in the world. But all in good time, of course.

In future, every young Irishman and woman should be able to speak at least two mainland European languages, as well as the language of this country.

While only a small fraction of Irish people can speak Irish fluently at the moment, that situation is changing.

I have reason to believe this order from Ms Hanafin is motivated by the need to provide English instruction for all children of immigrants.

By all means, English classes should be provided for immigrants, but not at the expense of Irish in our own Gaelscoileanna.

Micheál O’Nualláin

Belgrave Square

Monkstown

Co Dublin