New approach needed to teaching of Irish

I AM surprised by Enda Kenny’s proposal that Irish not be taken by all Leaving Cert students in future. If such a proposal were implemented the result would be the marginalisation of Irish as a subject in our schools.

There have been problems in the teaching of maths in recent years and a new syllabus is being designed. Would this approach in the case of Irish not be preferable?

Irish, like any other language, is acquired by practice. You cannot cram a language. Students would be under tremendous pressure in the context of the points system to choose a subject that can be crammed.

If students are forced to choose between Irish and other subjects required for their chosen careers (for example, biology or chemistry in the case of medicine), they will be left with no option but to choose the career subject.

Many schools would discontinue teaching Irish for the Leaving Cert.

This would be a backward step not just for Irish but also for the teaching of other languages, frustrating the EU policy that all citizens have proficiency in three languages.

Conradh na Gaeilge fully endorses this European ideal and our policies on this matter are based on European best practice:

1. All language teachers at both primary and post-primary level to have attended a year-long immersion course in that language’s heartland as part of their training.

2. One subject along with Irish to be taught through Irish to all pupils/students.

3. One subject to be taught through a third language to every second-level student. The realisation of an Irish language syllabus for native speakers and for learners.

4. The realisation of intense ‘catch-up’ courses in Irish for pupils who attended school overseas.

5. The realisation of State examinations in the major languages of the immigrant communities.

Dáithí Mac Cárthaigh

President

Conradh na Gaeilge

6 Sráid Fhearchair

Baile Átha Cliath 2