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Inishowen Irish education "under
attack"
04.09.09
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A FATHER of children
attending Gaelscoil in Buncrana fears the 'An Bord
Snip' proposals will erode the good work carried out
by the school to preserve the Irish language
locally.
Daren Lalor, who is also a local councillor, said he
was concerned at Colm McCarthy's recommendation to
scrap Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus
Gaelscolaíochta. (COGG). This is the body that
produces Irish language text books and learning
material for Gaelscoileanna.
"As a parent of children attending Gaelscoil Bhun
Cranncha I am very concerned of An Bord Snip Nua
proposals that set out to undermine our language on
a number of fronts. But what is very worrying for
our Irish language medium schools here in Inishowen
is the proposal to scrap Comhairle um Oideachas
Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG). |
" He said COGG was set
up by the Department of Education seven years ago
and had "played an important role on a limited
budget in providing much needed resources for
teaching, support and research". "One of the
important roles it plays is producing Irish language
text books and study aids which are vital for our
children," added Cllr Lalor.
"If these proposals are implemented, they will have
a detrimental effect on our children and will
undermine all the hard work parents and |
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teachers across
Inishowen have done over the last number of years.
Thanks to the commitment of these people our
children now have the opportunity to be educated in
their own language from pre-school right through to
second level."
He said the proposals would transfer Gaelscoileanna
into the hands of the Department of Education. "This
is the same department that recently, against the
wishes of teachers and parents, banned immersion
education in this State under the false belief that
it damages the English skills of pupils.
"I would call on the general public across Inishowen
who care about our language to lobby their elected
representatives and make submissions to Batt O'
Keeffe, Minister for Education and Science, before
the given deadline September 11. "It really would be
a slap in the face to all those involved in building
Irish medium education across the peninsula if the
minister implements the recommendations by An Bord
Snip Nua," he added.
Among the 'Snip' proposals on Irish are:
*Abolish the Department of Community Rural and
Gaeltacht Affairs.
*Abolish Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus
Gaelscolaíochta (COGG).
*Cutting TG4's budget by €10 million.
*Reduce the number of State documents in Irish. |
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