[:en]An Foras Pátrúnachta, the largest patron of Irish medium schools, welcomes the draft bill on school enrolment, which has been published by the Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn.
Minister Quinn published the draft Admission to Schools bill on September 2nd 2013.
An Foras Pátrúnachta welcome that:
- Irish medium schools will not be prevented from giving preference to Irish speaking families
- Irish medium secondary schools will not be prevented from giving preference to pupils from Gaelscoileanna which act as feeder schools.
However, An Foras Pátrúnachta believes that clarification is needed on how the new system will work practically. In cases where there is more demand than actual places available, some Gaelscoileanna interview applicants to assess their Irish language skills. If this option is unavailable to schools some sort other means of verification is required.
“As an organisation which was set up to cater for parents’ wishes , to give them a choice and to treat them fairly, An Foras Pátrúnachta is happy that a draft bill which will help with this has been published,” said Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta.
“We welcome the recognition which has been given to parents who are bringing their children up with Irish and to the need that is there to cater for them. An Foras Pátrúnachta will be part of the upcoming process which will clarify how this will work practically.”
Under the new regulations:
- Schools will not be allowed to accept applications before the 1st of October before the enrolment year
- The Minister may regulate that no admission fees may be sought or charges as a condition of application for admission to a school.
- Schools would not be able to conduct interviews with parents and children ahead of enrolment
- Schools that can establish that they have waiting lists in place may, under a derogation, be allowed to clear those lists over a period of a few years
- Schools will be allowed to prioritise places for an applicant who is a sibling of an existing or former student
- Appeals to be dealt with at school level under simplified arrangements.
The following documents can be downloaded:
- Draft-General-Scheme-of-an-Education-Admission-to-Schools-Bill-2013
- Draft-Regulations-on-Admission-Process-entitled-Education-Acts-1998-and-2013-Procedures-and-Timelines
- Draft-Regulations-Content-of-Policy-entitled-Education-Acts-1998-and-2013-Admission-Policies-of-Schools-and-Related-Matters-Regulations-2013
[:GA]Cuireann An Foras Pátrúnachta, an patrún is mó ar scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge, fáilte roimh an dréacht-Bhille maidir le rollachán scoile atá foilsithe ag an Aire Oideachais, Ruairí Quinn.
D’fhoilsigh an tAire Quinn an Dréacht-Bhille do Ligean Isteach ar Scoil an 2 Meán Fómhair 2013.
Is cúis áthais don Fhoras Pátrúnachta:
- nach mbeidh bac ar scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge tús áite a thabhairt do theaghlaigh lán-Ghaeilge
- nach mbeidh bac ar iarbhunscoileanna lán-Ghaeilge tús áite a thabhairt do dhaltaí ó Ghaelscoileanna atá ina scoileanna friothálacha.
Creideann An Foras Pátrúnachta go dteastaíonn soiléiriú ar cén chaoi a n-oibreoidh an córas nua go praiticiúil. I gcásanna ina bhfuil ró-éileamh ar áiteanna, cuireann roinnt Gaelscoileanna iarrthóirí faoi agallamh chun a gcumas teanga a thomhais. Mura bhfuil an rogha seo ar fáil dóibh caithfear a theacht ar bhealach eile chun deimhniúchán a dhéanamh.
“Mar eagraíocht a bunaíodh chun freastal ar mhianta thuismitheoirí agus chun rogha agus cothrom na Féinne a thabhairt dóibh, tá An Foras Pátrúnachta sásta go bhfuil dréacht-Bhille tagtha amach a chabhróidh leis sin,” arsa Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, Ard Rúnaí ar an bhForas Pátrúnachta.
“Fáiltítear go bhfuil aitheantas tugtha do thuismitheoirí atá ag tógáil a bpáistí le Gaeilge agus an gá atá ann freastal orthu. Beidh An Foras Pátrúnachta ag glacadh páirte sa phróiseas atá ag teacht aníos chun aimsiú conas a fheidhmeoimid é seo go praiticiúil.”
Faoin rialachán nua:
- Ní ligfí do scoileanna iarratais ar ligean isteach a ghlacadh roimh 1ú Deireadh Fómhair na bliana roimh bhliain an rollaithe
- Bheadh sé ar chumas an Aire a rialú nach ceadaithe táillí iontrála ar bith a iarraidh nó a ghearradh mar choinníoll le hiarratas a dhéanamh ar ligean isteach ar scoil.
- Ní bheadh scoileanna in ann agallaimh a chur ar thuismitheoirí agus páistí roimh an rollú.
- Áit gur féidir le scoileanna a chruthú go bhfuil liostaí feithimh ar bun acu, is féidir, de mhaolú air sin, ligint dóibh na liostaí sin a ghlanadh thar thréimhse roinnt blianta.
- Ligfear do scoileanna tús áite a thabhairt d’iarratasóir gur siblín é/í le mac léinn nó iarmhac léinn de chuid na scoile.
- Déileálfar le hachomhairc ag leibhéal na scoile.
Is féidir na cáipéisí seo a íoslódáil:
- Draft-General-Scheme-of-an-Education-Admission-to-Schools-Bill-2013
- Draft-Regulations-on-Admission-Process-entitled-Education-Acts-1998-and-2013-Procedures-and-Timelines
- Draft-Regulations-Content-of-Policy-entitled-Education-Acts-1998-and-2013-Admission-Policies-of-Schools-and-Related-Matters-Regulations-2013
[:]