The press release from An Foras Pátrúnachta in relation to the Action Plan for Education is available here.
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, 15th September 2016
An Foras Pátrúnachta welcomes measures to increase educational choice and tackle disadvantage
The largest patron of Irish medium schools in Ireland, An Foras Pátrúnachta has today welcomed commitments by the Government to increase the number of multi-denominational schools to 400 by 2030 and the targets set out to tackle educational disadvantage. The three year Action Plan for Education published today by Minister Bruton also includes welcome commitments on promoting wellbeing in schools, improving teacher education and a commitment to strengthening Irish language learning in Gaeltacht areas.
However, the Irish medium schools’ patron has highlighted concerns about the lack of focus
on the provision of increased Irish medium education.
Commenting today, Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta, said: ‘‘This action plan is a welcome strategic approach to education in Ireland and we look forward to working with the Minister on its implementation. The Action Plan outlines that the Government’s 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 will underpin and be integrated into this plan, however, An Foras Pátrúnachta is deeply concerned at the lack of emphasis in the plan in relation to Irish medium education provision.
“As the largest patron of Irish medium schools in Ireland, An Foras Pátrúnachta schools are now educating 15,000 students per annum and our schools are open to all children. Our aim is to provide an excellent education through the Irish language to every child in Ireland who wants it, regardless of faith or geographical location.”
‘‘Every parent should have the choice to send their child to an Irish medium education school if they wish. Demand and support from the public for the expansion of Irish medium education is increasing. We know from ESRI 2015 research that 23% of parents asked would send their children to an Irish-medium primary school if one was available close to their home, an increase of 10% since 2001.
“We also know that immersive education is excellent education. The benefits of this type of education through the medium of Irish are well documented – students perform better academically, find it easier to learn a third and fourth language and also recent research indicates that students learning through Irish are achieving higher scores in English and Maths.
‘‘We are eager to work with the Minister and with other education stakeholders to ensure that this Action plan is implemented and monitored. We look forward to continue to work with the Government to make sure that Irish medium education is a priority and that the Strategy for the Irish Language is implemented.”
ENDS
Contact: Sarah Harte / Laura Harmon DHR Communications, Tel: 087-9858259 / 086-1738455 / 01-4200580
- Interviews with General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta, Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, available on request.
- Download the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019 here: Action Plan for Education
- Read the ESRI research on attitudes to the Irish language here: Attitudes to the Irish Language on the Island of Ireland (August 2015)
About An Foras Pátrúnachta: An Foras Pátrúnachta is a national patron for both primary and second level schools with a range of spiritual ethos i.e. Multi-denominational, Inter-denominational or Catholic. They seek to develop, strengthen and promote education through the medium of Irish throughout the country. www.foras.ie
Tá Preasráiteas ón bhForas maidir leis an bPlean Gníomhaíochta don Oideachas ar fáil anseo.
Foilsíodh scéal faoin ábhar ar Tuairisc.ie anseo
Preasráiteas
Déardaoin 15 Meán Fómhair 2016
Fáilte curtha ag An Foras Pátrúnachta roimh na beartais chun rogha oideachasúil a leathnú agus chun dul i ngleic le míbhuntáiste.
Chuir An Foras Pátrúnachta, an pátrún ar scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge is mó in Éirinn, fáilte roimh ghealltanais an Rialtais líon na scoileanna ilchreidmheacha a mhéadú go 400 faoin mbliain 2030 agus roimh na spriocanna atá leagtha amach chun dul dul i ngleic le míbhuntáiste oideachasúil. Anuas ar sin, i measc na ngealltanas atá san áireamh sa Phlean Gníomhaíochtíochta don Oideachas trí bliana a d’fhoilsigh an tAire Richard Bruton inniu tá gealltanais i dtaobh leasa sna scoileanna, oideachas na múinteoirí a fheabhsú agus gealltanas i dtaobh fhoghlaim na Gaeilge a láidriú i gceantair Ghaeltachta, gealltanais a gcuirtear fáilte rompu.
Tá roinnt imní léirithe ag pátrún na scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge áfach faoin easpa dírithe i dtaobh níos mó oideachais lán-Ghaeilge a sholáthar.
Agus é ag trácht ar an bplean inniu, dúirt Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, Ard-Rúnaí An Fhorais Phátrúnachta: “Is cur chuige straitéiseach d’oideachas in Éirinn an plean gníomhaíochta seo, rud a chuirimid fáilte roimhe, agus táimid ag súil le bheith ag obair leis an Aire maidir len é a chur i bhfeidhm. Tá sé leagtha amach sa Phlean Gníomhaíochtaí go mbeidh Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge an Rialtais mar bhunchloch agus go mbeidh sé comhtháite sa phlean seo. Tá An Foras Pátrúnachta fíorbhuartha áfach faoin easpa béime sa phlean i dtaobh oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge a sholáthar.”
“Mar an pátrún is mó ar scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge in Éirinn, tá scoileanna An Fhorais Phátrúnachta ag cur oideachais ar 15,000 daltaí in aghaidh na bliana agus tá fáilte roimh gach páiste in ár scoileanna. Is í ár sprioc ná oideachas den chéad scoth a chur ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge do gach páiste in Éirinn atá á lorg, beag beann ar chreideamh nó ar shuíomh geografach.”
“Tá a fhios againn gurb oideachas den scoth é an tumoideachas. Tá fianaise mhaith ann maidir leis na buntáistí a bhaineann leis an gcineáil seo oideachais –bíonn torthaí acadúla níos fearr ag na daltaí, bíonn sé níos easca orthu an tríú nó an ceathrú teanga a fhoghlaim agus tá sé léirithe trí thaighde a rinneadh le déanaí go bhfuil marcanna níos airde i Mata agus i mBéarla á mbaint amach acu.”
“Tá an-fhonn orainn oibriú leis an Aire agus leis na páirtithe leasmhara oideachasúla eile chun cinntiú go gcuirfear an Plean Gníomhaíochta seo i bhfeidhm agus go ndéanfar monatóireacht air. Táimid ag súil le bheith ag obair leis an Rialtas chun a chinntiú go bhfuil oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge mar thosaíocht acu agus go bhfuil Straitéis 20 bliain don Ghaeilge á cur i bhfeidhm.
Críoch
Teagmháil: Sarah Harte / Laura Harmon DHR Communications, Tel: 087-9858259 / 086-1738455 / 01-4200580
- Tá Ard-Rúnaí An Foras Pátrúnachta, Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, ar fáil le haghaidh agallaimh ach é a iarraidh.
- Is féidir an Plean Gníomhaíochtaí don Oideachas 2016-2019 a íoslódáil anseo: http://www.education.ie/ga/Foilseach%C3%A1in/Tuarasc%C3%A1lacha-Corpar%C3%A1ideacha/R%C3%A1iteas-Strait%C3%A9ise/An-Roinn-Oideachais-agus-Scileanna-Raiteas-Straiteise-2016-2019.pdf
- Léigh an taighde a rinne ESRI ar dhearcthaí i leith na Gaeilge anseo: Attitudes to the Irish Language on the Island of Ireland (August 2015)
Maidir leis “An Foras Pátrúnachta”: Is pátrún náisiúnta é An Foras Pátrúnachta ar bhunscoileanna agus ar mheánscoileanna araon a bhfuil raon éitis spioradálta acu i.e. ilchreidmheach, idirchreidmheach nó caitliceach. Is é mar aidhm acu ná oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge a fhorbairt, a láidriú agus a chur chun cinn ar fud na tíre. www.foras.ie