Schools act promptly to meet English language needs of new pupils

THE Joint Managerial Body (JMB), representing the management of the 400 voluntary secondary schools in Ireland, is very disappointed at much of the ill-informed commentary in the media over the last few days in relation to the provision of language support for newcomer students in this country.

The JMB emphasises that schools have been very innovative and caring in their welcome for and full integration of students for whom English is a second language. The commitment of school management and staff is even more noteworthy when one sets it off against the reality of serious underfunding and lack of experience in the mainstream Irish education system of providing for the broad educational and social needs of students for whom English is a second language.

It is the practice in voluntary secondary schools to identify the student’s English language needs at the point of entry to the school and then adopt a model of support for that student which not just responds to his/her language needs but also places an emphasis on integrating the student into the mainstream classes and activities from day one.

Schools have responded to the learning needs of students from international backgrounds by adopting a combination of approaches such as part withdrawal of the student for intensive English language classes through to mentoring programmes where a student for whom English is the mother tongue acts as a buddy to a student with little or no English. In welcoming and integrating students, schools have focused not just on language support but also on cultural mediation so that students can integrate into Irish society and culture.

In turn our school communities have been enriched through an acknowledgement of and respect for each other and our diverse cultural backgrounds.

Let us hope that the recent debate will at least have created an awareness of the excellent work of school communities in welcoming and integrating newcomer students and a realisation that our schools require additional support so that all students in our schools can continue to be provided with an effective educational experience.

Ferdia Kelly

General Secretary

Joint Managerial Body

Emmet House

Milltown

Dublin 14