Ms Breda Naughton:

Deputy McConalogue asked how the junior cycle reform will assist language capacity in the schools. In the new junior cycle we have set down statements of learning which describe what the students should know, understand and value at the end of their junior cycle. Two of these statements are that they would be able to communicate in the school’s first language, be it English or Irish, and have a level of proficiency in another language, appropriate to their particular ability. All children will study English and Irish but they will also have an opportunity to study a foreign language. That could be either as a full subject or a new short course of 100 hours.

The NCCA is preparing a short course in Chinese. Before, the first opportunity students had to learn the language was through a transition year module. From 2014, they will have an opportunity to study it through a short course. Schools can also develop short courses. This would be helpful to those schools with a high proportion of migrants. For example, we now have 700 young people doing Polish for the leaving certificate. A school may offer short courses in languages where there is a demand for them.

Deputy Jonathan O’Brien referred to learning a language at school just to get the grade. I know he is a bit younger than me but when I was in school it was all about learning theorems, geometry and poems by heart for the grade too. We did not have a clue. I remember going to Brussels airport with my parents. They were delighted with me when I asked where to get a taxi in French. However, when the man replied, I had not a clue what he was saying. Today, there is a greater approach to learning a language orally and using it in real-life situations. With the new junior cycle, the assessment emphasis will be changed. It will be an assessment for learning that happened throughout the students experience in the three years.

They will have opportunities to talk to teachers and to their peers and to understand what they are learning, rather than being dependent on waiting until the end of third year to have a grade allocated. This is how the new junior cycle framework will provide a different emphasis from that it does currently in the context of languages.

I also want to speak about Irish. The national literacy and numeracy strategy was published in 2011 and it set out policy with regard to languages at primary level. The 2009 PISA results indicated we had gone right down on the scale with regard to literary and numeracy, but there was also evidence that Irish students were not doing well in those areas. We felt that if we got the foundation right there, this would then enable young people to learn other languages when they enter post-primary level. Therefore, it was Government policy that decided this was the way to go. However we must be mindful of policy on Irish and the Department of Education and Skills must report every few months to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on what we are doing about Irish in the context of the 20 year strategy and the Gaeltacht Act, which requires that Gaeltacht areas and service towns that look after Gaeltacht areas ensure there is appropriate provision for Irish.

I agree there are some concerns with regard to the teaching of Irish. The committee is probably aware that from next year, new teachers will be required to spend two years doing their higher diploma and primary teachers will have to spend four years doing their degrees. There is also consultation taking place currently with the Teaching Council with regard to the level of Irish and maths students should have to enable them enter teacher education. Also, student teachers will be expected to spend two weeks each year in the Gaeltacht, rather than one period of three weeks. This is being done in the hope that if we demand a higher level of Irish at entry and if we provide a greater opportunity to be involved in the Gaeltacht, these young teachers will have a greater understanding of the language, the culture and the Irish ethos.

There is also talk of a short literature course in Irish because in the new curricula there will be more emphasis on oral and aural ability. Some young people in Irish medium schools and the Gaeltacht may have a greater proficiency in Irish and perhaps schools will provide a short course on literature in order to keep those groups interested in Irish. This is being considered and may be possible through the new junior cycle framework.

Perhaps Mr. Caffrey will speak now about teaching teachers and learning.