A national campaign to radically change how the Irish language is taught in the country's schools was unveiled in Dublin this morning.
The policy, backed by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and the Union of Secondary Students (USS), recognises the failure of the current curriculum in successfully teaching Irish.
The proposal provides for an Erasmus-type experience for primary school trainee teachers where they could achieve a command of the language they will teach in the future.
The policy concentrates on improved teacher training with an emphasis on immersion education. The removal of Irish literature from the curriculum at foundation and ordinary level would allow students to concentrate on the acquisition of good spoken skills.
And the workload of literature for higher level students will be recognised by marking "Irish Literature" as an extra subject.
Conradh na Gaeilge President Dáithí Mac Cárthaigh announced the proposed policy in Dublin this morning with Colm Hamrogue, president of USI, and Nikolai Trigoub-Rotnem, president of the USS.
The campaign is seeking all-party support ahead of the general election for the proposed policy and a commitment is being sought by all parties to include the policy in the next programme for Government.
Criticising current teaching methods, Dáithí Mac Cárthaigh said the teaching of Irish in English medium schools "produce[s] very few fluent speakers of Irish, and the syllabus is often the cause of frustration for students, parents and teachers alike.
"The policy that we are proposing to address this is based on best international practice, could be implemented on a phased basis over the lifetime of the next government, and would radically improve the acquisition of Irish in our schools."
Mr McCarthaigh said the reforms "must be part of, and a step toward, an integrated language curriculum. Languages are acquired by use and practice. Other methodologies do not bear fruit".