A DECISION by Minister for Education Mary Coughlan not to add a new Irish language subject to the Leaving Cert curriculum will lead to “cultural impoverishment”, a leading educationalist has warned.
A campaign to introduce the subject was launched by Áine Ní Ghallchóir of NUI Maynooth after it emerged that a revised Leaving syllabus being introduced this September included a reduced volume of literature for higher level-students. Instead, the new syllabus has a greater focus on spoken and aural examinations with 40 per cent of the marks to be allotted to the oral examination, and 10 per cent for the aural examination.
The syllabus no longer contains an entire novel and students are only required to read seven chapters of Maidhc Dainín's A Thig Ná Tit Ormand specified excerpts from Tóraíocht Diarmuid agus Gráinne. The history of the Irish language has also been removed as an element of the course.
Meitheal na Gaeilge ATAL, comprising representatives from Gaelscoileanna Teoranta, Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, was formed to lobby the department for the introduction of a new literature-oriented subject.
Lobbyists say the revised syllabus does not recognise the existence of native Irish speakers, gaelscoileanna, or students of higher proficiency who may wish to attain a high standard of education in the Irish language at second level.
Citing duplication of resources and the “possible inequity” for students without a high proficiency in Irish “in terms of CAO access”, the department said Ms Coughlan “is not convinced” of the merits of introducing a new Irish subject.
Ms Ní Ghallchóir, who heads NUI Maynooth’s Language Centre, said it was introduced with “scant regard” for good practice and would lead to “lower levels of communicative competence and cultural impoverishment”.
The syllabus will continue, the department said, but the Tánaiste has directed the National Council of Curriculum and Assessment to review its implementation, as is normally the practice.
