Irish qualifications for primary teaching

Learning

I believe having a qualification in Irish such as Honours Leaving Cert used to be compulsory for professions such as secondary teaching and gardai, however in the last number of years this requirement has been withdrawn. Based on this do you think the same will inevitably happen in primary teaching as well? Or as Irish is ideally taught by all teachers in primary education do you think the level of Irish required will be reduced?
Just interested in the different opinions on this subject.

An Bradán Feasa

I think they should leave the LC Irish requirement as it is for Primary Teaching. Otherwise you'd get a lot of students with little Irish eventually going out teaching, and making a balls of teaching Irish while at it. Then the standard of Irish in schools will start to decline. I don't want to see that happening.

To be honest, I'd be a lot happier if the requirement was raised from a C3 Honours to a B3 Honours.

hgf

learning,
i dont think this will ever happen, there have been many lobby groups set up over the years to challenge the dept on the standard of irish they required from qualified teachers (many based on the SCG exams which are required to be sat by all teachers qualified outside the state). these exams are extremely diffiicult and means a lot of teachers from outside the state cannot get jobs as these exams are set at a third level irish standard. many actions have even been taken to the courts in the EU to try and change the standards requied and to no success.
so in short i wouldnt hold your breath!!!

FJH

I dont see how you can take Irish away as a requirement for teaching. Irish is on the national cirriculum so a good standard is required.

Its totally different to the gardai, where you wouldn't be using Irish often and certainly not teaching it!!

Learning

FJH you will notice I asked if the requirement will ever be reduced not totally withdrawn.

I totally agree with all the replies, if somebody is going to be teaching Irish then they need a qualification in the subject area. However, as I understand it people who qualified outside the state can teach in a primary school and another teacher teaches their class for Irish until they pass the exam which doesn't sound ideal. Also, as Ireland are in the EU and many people are coming into Ireland from those countries this requirement as somebody else has pointed out certainly stops most people who are not Irish teaching here. I was just interested in what people thought on the subject.

Filan

This was a major source of grievance to me as despite holding the Higher Diploma in Education and actualy part of a second degree...I don't hold honours Irish for the Leaving Cert!

Until a few years ago I was interested in and certainly would have applied for the Graduate Diploma in Primary Education had I been eligible. I now feel that that time has passed.

Ironicly I have taught in Primary Schools as a substitute and felt that the level of Irish required within the classroom was quite low....and don't feel that a high level of Irish on behalf of the teacher is necessary.

Leaving Cert Honours Irish really says little about one's ability in the language... I know holders of such....even degree holders in other languages...with very poor command of that tongue....

There should be greater flexibility...allow Irish Students the chance to study for an equivilant exam .or prove their fluency in some way other than the Leaving Cert

Sadly my Irish teacher dsicouraged me from doing Honours Irish in 5th year...I foolishly submitted to her wishes...Considering I got great results in most other subjects...I'm sure it was the wrong conclusion on both sides.

An Bradán Feasa

Learning wrote: »

Also, as Ireland are in the EU and many people are coming into Ireland from those countries this requirement as somebody else has pointed out certainly stops most people who are not Irish teaching here.

That's not completely true. If a child born of foreign parents goes through the Irish education system from start to finish, they have as much chance at becoming teachers as a child born to Irish parents.

Learning

I will rephrase just for you An Bradan Feasa - people who have not been through the Irish education system may have particular difficultly learning Irish later in life to teach in primary schools here, regardless of where they were born. You will notice however that I did say MOST people who are not Irish - so what you pointed out to me I am obviously already aware of!

An Bradán Feasa

Learning wrote: »

... people who have not been through the Irish education system may have particular difficultly learning Irish later in life to teach in primary schools here, regardless of where they were born.

That's true. And yes, it will be an obstacle for them if they ever want to pursue a teaching career in Ireland, but if the LC Irish requirement was relaxed, or even done away with (!) the level of Irish taught by a person in this situtation would be extremely poor. That's provided they were able to complete a teacher training course. On that note, they probably would not last in a teacher training college, seeing as Gaeilge and Múnadh na Gaeilge lectures take place purely through Irish. And the standard of Irish used in these lectures is generally high.

This may seem harsh, but it's just the way it is.

Katiee

Hi, just wondering if aynone here knows anything about the Irish exam for teachers who have a British degree and PGDE? I am Irish, 22 years old. Following my LC, I went over to Scotland where I completed a 4 year Honours Degree in Psychology. I am now returning to Scotland in August where I have secured my place on a PGDE course in Primary teaching. I have been, and still am, sub-teaching since Sept this year. I am eager to pass my Irish exam as soon as possible when I return to Ireland after my PGDE. I understand its of extremely difficult standard? I was in Honours Irish up until a month before my LC, and got a B1 at pass level. I know this is nowhere near the standard required, but as I have proven several times, if I put my mind to it, I know what I can do! Can anyone offer an info on what the course entails? And how I go about sitting it? Is there actualy lectures around the country for teachers in my position or do you find your own way of learning, such as grinds?