Irish language teachers, deeply concerned that their subject is perceived as irrelevant and unimportant, want an integrated plan developed "urgently". This is one of the thorny issues that the newly appointed Minister, Michael Woods, will have to deal with. According to a statement issued by Comhar na Muinteoiri Gaeilge (CMG), the Irish language teachers' organisation, teachers want "a comprehensive consultation process" set in train, which will develop an integrated plan for Irish, in collaboration with the authorities in Northern Ireland.
CMG says members are dismayed by the arbitrary manner in which negative decisions, affecting people and institutions, have been made. It says members are worried about "signals" coming from the Department of Education and Science, in particular the decision taken last year that trainee teachers no longer need to pass the CeardTeastas Gaeilge exam in order to register as second-level teachers. According to its statement, "a significant difference in qualifications now exists between those teachers in the generality of schools who had acquired the qualification in the past and those for whom it is now no longer required".
The organisation highlights the difficulty for teachers who may wish to transfer from one school to another but who are not fully aware of the implications of the different categories.
Pol Ruiseal, director of UCC's Bord na Gaeilge department and a member of CMG, points out in his department's annual report, 1998 1999, that about 100 students attended the Ceard-Teastas Gaeilge course last year. However following "an unexpected directive issued in June 1999" this registration requirement has been rescinded, as the report notes. The numbers taking this course are likely to drop following the Department's decision. The average number each year is 150 students, says Ruiseal. This year the number has dropped to 16 students.
CMG says it is concerned at the "apparent lack of concern" for institutions which have "suffered loss of students and staff with no forewarning". The organisation now wants steps taken to redress the negative perception which has resulted in relation to Irish.
