At present the State offers no support to teachers who are trying to attain a qualification in Irish, an INTO conference was told at the weekend.
While Gael Linn provides a course for teachers designed by the Department of Education, there is no financial support available to assist teachers attending that course.
An INTO discussion document entitled Irish in the Primary School points out that teachers must pay a fee for the course and their own expenses and attend the course in their own time. The Gael Linn course is available in Dublin only, and fees and costs also apply in the Gaeltacht, where the course is compulsory.
The document, which was discussed by 350 delegates in Co Clare, shows that teachers trained outside the State are dissatisfied with the Scrudu le haghaidh Cail iochta sa Ghaeilge and with the process of acquiring recognition as a primary teacher. "A change of system is urgently required and a negative culture is associated with the present system and this does not encourage an interest in the teaching and promotion of Irish among those teachers who are preparing for the exam."
The paper adds: "If teachers who qualified outside the State are required to achieve a recognised competency in Irish, the system must provide support for them and facilitate the process. The teaching of the Irish language in primary schools will be better served through encouraging the interest of teachers in Irish, rather than having them struggling with examinations which do not aid them in their work in the classroom."
The document also suggests that a three-year period is not adequate for beginners. It is too difficult for beginners who are undertaking the exam on a part-time basis to achieve the standards required within three years. The course syllabus is not suitable and structural amendments to the exam are required, and support services should be made available.
A graded and staged system is needed so that teachers will not become discouraged while developing required competency.
Senator Joe O'Toole, general secretary, said it was unbelievable that the only course available was in Dublin and set up by a private operation. It was a completely negative approach and no attempt was being made to encourage Northern teachers to obtain a qualification.
"The standard is unnecessarily high, and we believe many teachers, particularly Northern teachers who have conversational Irish, would not pass the exam as at present," he added.