Education Minister attends Launch of Irish Medium Resources for Schools

Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, has attended the launch of the Council for the Curriculum Examinations & Assessment’s (CCEA) first batch of Irish Medium resources aimed at teachers, pupils and parents in the Irish Medium Sector.

Ag labhairt di ag an ócáid i mBunscoil Phobal Feirste, Béal Feirste, dúirt an tAire: “Is mór an phribhléid é cuireadh a fháil le bheith anseo chun an chéad shraith de réimse acmhainní Gaelscolaíochta, atá forbartha ag clár tacaíochta CCEA do Ghaelscoileanna, a lainseáil. Chonaic mé féin ardchaighdeán na n-acmhainní, nach raibh fáil ar a leithéid go dtí seo, agus tá mé iontach sásta lena bhfuil feicthe agam agus leis an tacaíocht a thabharfaidh siad do mhúinteoirí leis an churaclam athbhreithnithe a sholáthar tríd an Ghaeilge.

Speaking at the event in Bunscoil Phobal Feirste, Belfast, the Minister said: “It is a privilege to be invited here to launch the first in a range of Irish Medium resources produced by CCEA’s Irish Medium support programme. I have seen at first hand the quality of the materials available, which have not been available until now, and I have been very impressed with what I’ve seen and how they will support teachers in delivering the revised curriculum through Irish.

“In recent years there has been an increase in the number of people of all ages choosing to learn and speak Irish, and an increased demand for places in Irish-medium schools at all levels in many areas in the north of Ireland. These resources are only the first step towards closing the gaps in material support for the Irish Medium sector at primary and secondary level, which were identified in the Irish Medium Education Review Report.

“That is the reason my department has provided additional funding to CCEA to enhance its programme and why more resources will become available as CCEA roles out its programme over the coming years.

“It is also important that CCEA and the Irish Medium sector continue to engage to identify the areas where these resources are required and I look forward to this engagement continuing.”

The Minister concluded: “The more opportunities we can provide to support languages in schools, the greater benefits for our young people and for our future. This is important and one of the reasons I introduced the Primary Languages Programmes in schools, enabling primary schools to work with tutors and learn Irish, Spanish and Polish”.

Notes to editors:

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