Dublin’s War on Gaelic - Downgrades to Irish Language Education Standards Condemned by the Gaelic League

The Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaeilge) is the main voluntary community organisation that promotes the Irish language in Ireland and abroad. The League’s primary objective is the reinstatement of the Irish language as the common tongue of Ireland.  Since its founding in 1893, members have been actively promoting Irish in every aspect of life in Ireland, from legal and educational affairs to the development of media and services through Irish.  Members of the Gaelic League are in the forefront of campaigns to strengthen the rights of the Irish speaking community.

News from the Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaeilge) :

Another Blow to the Status of Irish

 “Conradh na Gaeilge has strongly criticised the decision of the Department of Education and Skills in the south to replace the state oral examination for Junior Certificate Irish with an in-class oral assessment, voicing concern that neither weaker  pupils nor native speakers will be treated fairly under the new structure that will see teachers left to grade their own students, with no independent external assessment.” 

“ Conradh na Gaeilge is seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O'Sullivan TD, to clarify the situation regarding school-based assessment, a national assessment standard, the percentage going for the new Junior Certificate oral examination, and a training programme for teachers.” 

In the Press Release Mr. Cóilín Ó Cearbhaill, President of the Gaelic Leagues is quoted as follows:  “Conradh na Gaeilge believes it will be extremely difficult for teachers to apply an impartial, common standard for Junior Certificate students if there is no structure for external assessment in place, and in the absence of information from the Department of Education as regards to a training programme for teachers to this end, Conradh na Gaeilge fears the new system will damage the students’ standard of spoken Irish.”

 See full text of the Press Release on the link below to the website of Conradh na Gaeilge:

 https://cnag.ie/en/news/news-releases/720-another-blow-to-the-status-of-...