Dáil debates

Wednesday, 14 December 2011

Topical Issue Debate

Languages Programme

3:00 pm

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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This matter was brought to my attention in my constituency over the weekend and I intended to raise yesterday but unfortunately it was not selected for discussion. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise it today.

I recognise that all Departments face severe economic constraints and understand the need to make savings in every Department. While it is easy to call for cuts to be reversed without setting out alternative sources of revenue, I strongly believe the decision to scrap the modern languages in primary schools initiative should be reviewed. This excellent initiative supports 500 schools nationwide and has a core team of six people co-ordinating it. It provides training and teaching in modern European languages to young children in primary schools and costs little in the overall scheme of things. While a figure of €2.5 million was cited in budget documentation, I understand the overall cost of the initiative is closer to €2 million.

I am concerned that the decision to abolish the scheme has been taken at a time when we need to be more outward looking by teaching our children European languages and doing our best to prepare them for the global market. The modern languages in primary school initiative is a step in the right direction and I hope the decision will be reviewed. While I understand the initial decision was to end the scheme in January, I have been led to believe it will be extended until June. I ask the Minister of State to ensure the decision is reviewed in the period until June with a view to finding some means of continuing to finance this important initiative.

The modern languages in primary schools initiative provides excellent value for money. The savings achieved from its abolition would be minuscule, particularly given the social and educational dividend it pays. Modern European languages are more important than ever. Moreover, it is easier for children at primary school level to learn foreign languages than older children. Teaching under the initiative takes place in a fun and enjoyable environment and eliminates the fear among children of learning European languages. I recall that one of the most daunting aspects of beginning secondary school was having to learn a foreign language. Children who have been involved in the initiative are very positive about European languages because the fear factor has been removed. They embrace language learning when they reach second level because they already have an excellent grounding in it. Losing the programme would, therefore, be a great shame. Over the weekend, I spoke to numerous teachers who are involved in the modern languages in primary schools initiative and to principals in the primary schools where it is being taught. They all agree that the initiative should definitely not be cut.

Photo of Michael KittMichael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Deputy to give way to Deputy Pringle.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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How much time have I left?

Photo of Michael KittMichael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Your time is up because you are sharing it with Deputy Pringle.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Okay. I ask the Government to review this measure because it is a step in the wrong direction. We need a more joined-up approach to education if we are to prepare our children for the future. I hope something can be done in this regard.

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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I apologise for my late arrival in the Chamber. I had thought our matter was the second one on the Topical Issue agenda. As Deputy Griffin has outlined, the proposed abolition of the modern languages in primary schools initiative is a regressive cut. The children involved in the initiative, which is offered in 550 schools throughout the country, derive significant value from it. They are given a substantial head-start in modern European languages in fifth and sixth classes before they progress into the secondary system. It is vitally important that children are proficient in European languages when they leave the education system.

Ireland is a member of the EU and Irish companies do a great deal of business in Europe. We need our young people to be able to communicate with their European counterparts in a number of languages. We always hear business leaders bemoaning the fact that many Irish graduates are not very proficient in European languages. They have great difficulty recruiting people who can communicate in the various languages that are used around Europe. The Barcelona agreement and the Lisbon strategy, which called for systems to be put in place by 2010 to facilitate the early learning of at least two languages, were not ratified by the EU until last November.

The senseless cutback that is being introduced by the Department of Education and Skills, which will save just €2 million per annum, will place children at a severe disadvantage at a time when they need to be learning modern European languages. This regressive step should be reversed. I have received a great deal of correspondence in recent days from many school children who are very concerned about this cutback. I received a letter today from a pupil who said, "when my teacher told us that you cut modern languages, I was ready to cry". That is the impact this is having on children who were looking forward to increasing their education and developing their skills.

Photo of Ciarán CannonCiarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I am responding on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn. I thank Deputies Griffin and Pringle for raising this issue. I welcome the opportunity to clarify the position on the decision that was taken in the context of budget 2012 concerning the ending of the modern languages in primary schools initiative.

As part of the budget 2012 decisions that have been announced, the modern languages in primary schools initiative will cease at the end of the 2011-12 school year. The savings from this measure will go towards the cost of implementing the new national literacy and numeracy strategy, which is a key commitment in the programme for Government. Since he was appointed as Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn has spoken repeatedly about the need to raise educational standards. The curriculum reform priorities in the period ahead are to strengthen achievement in literacy and numeracy, to implement reforms in maths, Irish and science, and to progress junior cycle reforms.

The modern languages initiative, which was a pilot scheme involving approximately 500 schools, had been operating since 1998. It has not been possible for other schools to join the pilot project for a number of years. The way it operated meant it was not capable of being rolled out to all 3,200 primary schools. The decision to end the scheme from June 2012 was partly based on policy advice from a 2008 report of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, which identified serious issues with curricular overload at primary level. The council recommended that modern languages should not be part of the primary school curriculum as an additional and separate subject at present.

The primary curriculum is being reviewed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in the context of the national literacy and numeracy strategy. The focus of the review will be on how best to enhance children's learning in these areas, to provide a clearer delineation of the learning outcomes required and to integrate into the infant cycle the learning experiences from the curriculum framework for early childhood education, Aistear.

Targeted support is provided to post-primary schools to enable them to diversify their language provision. There is a particular focus on Spanish, Japanese, Russian and Italian. Other languages, including French, German and Arabic, are also taught at second level. Participation in foreign languages remains high by comparison with other subjects. The vast majority of students study two languages and thereby develop core skills which will serve them well in future language learning. There are many opportunities outside the second level system for people to resume language learning.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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The modern languages in primary schools initiative is of considerable assistance in the delivery of improved literacy and numeracy in schools. It does that in a fun and enjoyable way. The contribution the initiative has made in the areas of literacy and numeracy should not be disregarded. Last October, the Royal Irish Academy published its national languages strategy, which called for the modern languages in primary schools initiative to be integrated into the mainstream curriculum. That was strongly recommended by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs in 2005 and in a Council of Europe policy profile in 2008. That should be taken into consideration as well.

I will make a final point before I conclude. I am conscious that Deputy Pringle intends to make a final contribution as well. The Kerry football team has won 36 all-Irelands. We are very proud of every one of them. One of the factors that contributes to Kerry's success is that one is given a football as soon as one can walk.

Photo of Michael KittMichael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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It is good to know that.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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I suggest we should apply that thinking to the teaching of languages in schools.

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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If it stops Kerry from winning all-Irelands, I am in favour of it.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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We will say nothing about 1982. The young brain is much more capable of learning languages than the older brain is. It is vital that we protect this initiative. It should be expanded. I understand that might not be possible under the current budgetary constraints. If the initiative is preserved for now, perhaps it can be expanded at some stage in the future when we are in a better economic position. Certainly, we should not do away with it.

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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I concur with everything Deputy Griffin has said. The younger children are when they start to learn languages, the easier it is for them. The manner in which the brain develops means it is easier for young people to absorb languages. The older we leave it, the more difficult it is. I recall that I found it difficult when I was in secondary school. All secondary school children take a second language. I would be interested to know what percentage of them progress to study languages at third level. That is the point we need to look at. It is vitally important that we ensure people have qualifications and proficiency in modern languages when they finish third level education. We have signed up to and ratified the Barcelona agreement, so we need to make a commitment to it. This initiative will enhance literacy and numeracy because children can absorb an awful lot. The more exciting and varied their learning is, the better equipped they will be. Can the Minister of State confirm that the programme will end in June 2012? Some teachers have been informed that their jobs will be gone at the end of the year.

4:00 pm

Photo of Ciarán CannonCiarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I spoke in the Seanad a couple of days ago about the suggestion that the programme will conclude at the end of this year. My understanding is that it will run until the end of the current academic year in June 2012. We fully accept the desirability of the EU policy direction set out in the Barcelona agreement. That does not necessarily mean such an approach is practicable in every member state. Our national languages - Irish and English - are given recognition under our Constitution and are taught at primary level. I would argue that the teaching of those two languages enhances the ability of a child to readily absorb other languages later in life.

It was not easy to decide to end this scheme. I know the Minister, Deputy Quinn, gave careful consideration before the decision was taken to the concerns that were expressed from a number of quarters about the teaching of languages. This country will face an incredible challenge in the next few years.

Education is part of the four year recovery plan. We must find €350 million of savings between now and 2014. We are seeking to manage this reduction in a way that is as fair as possible. We had to take some difficult decisions in the run-up to the budget. It was difficult making the decision to end this initiative. We decided to shield front line services in schools as best we can and to the greatest extent possible. The pupil-teacher ratio remains intact. Resource teaching and SNA supports that are available to children with special needs remain intact.

We are also focusing, as we must, on our capital building programme in coming years in order to respond to a very serious demographic challenge. Thankfully, this is a positive one in that we must address serious population growth in the next few years. Between now and 2017 we must find room for 70,000 extra children in our schools. We are engaging in a €2.2 billion capital programme in the coming years in order to respond to that challenge.

It is a difficult decision and was not taken lightly. However, in the context of what we had to do, it was the only decision available to us at the time.