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Conradh Lecture Kicks Up A Controversy

The esteemed Dónal Ó hAiniféin confronted the controversial subject of immersion education at Conradh na Gaeilge's annual Lecture in the Royal Irish Academy, Dawson Street, Dublin 2 last night, Tuesday 22 April 2008, stressing the importance of conducting more research in Ireland on methods of total early immersion education and advocating the development of part- and medium-immersion to present more options to parents interested in availing of Irish-medium education for their children.
 
Ó hAiniféin, a past President of Gaelscoileanna Teoranta and current principal of Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg, was the guest-speaker at the Lecture and drew both on the works of international researchers and on his own research into methods of total early immersion education in Ireland and the English literacy skills of 2nd and 5th Class pupils in Irish-speaking primary schools to illustrate his point and to prompt the crowded lecture hall into discussion with questions and answers at the end of his talk.

Mr Ó hAiniféin spoke about immersion education and its role in the Irish schooling system in the past, in the present and for the future at Conradh na Gaeilge's Lecture, particularly in the context of:

  • The Government's Statement on the Irish Language 2006; the Government's Education Act; the Primary School Curriculum 1999; and various Department of Education and Science policies on the matter;
  • The recommendations of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA);
  • Research and opinions on the subject from home and abroad;
  • Bilingualism and bilingual education in Ireland; and
  • Different educational and sociolinguistic continua pertaining to the teaching of Irish.

Dónal Ó hAiniféin, the guest-speaker for this year's Conradh na Gaeilge Lecture said: "I referred to documentation such as the Government's Statement on the Irish Language 2006 that insists "A high standard of all-Irish education will be provided to school students whose parents/guardians so wish" and that "Gaelscoileanna will continue to be supported at primary level and all-Irish provision at post-primary level will be developed to meet follow-on demand" to support the case for immersion education in Ireland on the basis of what the Government itself has promised on the subject.

It is imperative that more research is conducted at home on methods of total early immersion education in Ireland, as noted in the Government's own immersion education policies, and we urgently need to establish a united, all-Ireland approach to immersion education founded on the best practices in other countries.

We also need to facilitate parents looking to give their children part- or medium-immersion education by developing teaching methods where subjects other than Irish are taught through the medium of Irish at both primary and secondary school level, as proposed by John Harris."

Both Irish- and English-speakers attended and took part in the debate and discussions, thanks to the simultaneous translation service on hand on the night. David Little's bilingual booklet entitled "The Future of Languages in Irish Education: Policy, Curriculum, Pedagogy" was also launched and copies are available from Conradh na Gaeilge in 6 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2 or by calling on 01 4757401.

Further information:
Dónal Ó hAiniféin,
Guest-speaker, Conradh na Gaeilge Lecture 2008.
086 2281585 / 01 4757401

Dáithí Mac Cárthaigh,
President, Conradh na Gaeilge.
01 4757401 / 087 2368364

 

 

Conradh na Gaeilge

6 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2.
Phone: +353 (0) 1 475 7401, Fax: +353 (0) 1 475 7844, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.