Virginia College takes the lead with Irish

A new initiative designed to teach six subjects initially through the medium of Irish is to commence in Virginia College in September, the principal Karen Fitzpatrick told the February meeting of County Cavan VEC. Currently Junior Certificate students take 11 subjects and in the Irish stream, six of those would be taught through Irish - Maths, CSPCE, Geography, French, Irish and SPHE. Ms Fitzpatrick said there are many benefits to having an Irish stream in secondary school. It will promote fluency in the language, which would benefit students taking Irish in the Junior and Leaving Certificate. From 2012 the oral aspect of the Irish exams will attract 40% of the marks at Higher Level in the Leaving. Oral components are also being introduced in the Junior Certificate and that will also amount to 40%. "With such significant marks being allocated to the oral, we feel the Irish stream will be of huge benefit to students in the state examinations and their fluency will be enhanced," said Ms Fitzpatrick. Hopefully it will also increase the number of students taking Irish at higher level. There are also marks awarded in general to students who take state exams through Irish. Ms Fitzpatrick said they also feel in the college that there will be definite economic advantages. Irish will be of benefit to those wishing to pursue a career in the public service, and an advantage to students interested in primary and secondary teaching and people wishing to enter An Garda Síochána. Ms Fitzpatrick said Virginia was the only college in the county endeavouring to introduce this new Irish stream. The vice-principal Seamus Greene said they carried out some work on the project last year in view of the fact that it came to their attention that a Gael scoil was on the process of being established in Killinkere. Unfortunately that did not go ahead last September, but there is every possibility that it may happen this September or the following year. "At some stage those students will move to second level. Forty four students had enrolled for the Gael scoil. We are in close proximity to that proposed Gael scoil, when and if it goes ahead," said Mr. Greene.They hope to offer six subjects to incoming first year students to Virginia College, who follow the Irish stream (Sruth) in September. Mr. Greene has spoken to Finbar Connolly in the State Exams Commission. "He explained to me that a student answering a particular paper through the medium of Irish, can gain up to 10% extra, up to a student gaining 75%. After 75%, a graduating scale is introduced. Those additional marks can be gained in all written papers." Mr. Connolly also pointed out that even in Maths, where little wording is used, a student could gain up to 10%. "If they can achieve 75% on the paper, some Irish terminology used here and there could upgrade their marks, so that they would be touching on a Grade A, and that could well give them the 10 or 20 extra points they would be looking for in terms of the CAO requirements." Mr. Greene said that Virginia College was offering something new in this county and if people wish to avail of it, the choice was theirs. "We're talking about a small number of subjects at present, but perhaps down the line it will grow. Instead of being called a Stream (Sruth), which it is at present, it would be called an Aonad or unit within the college," said Mr. Greene. The announcement of the initiative was welcomed by VEC member Paddy O'Reilly from Virginia, who also noted the possibility of a local Gael scoil.He thought that the fact that those taking their exams through Irish will earn additional marks should prove attractive to those wishing to do it, because they can also those vital points in the competitive CAO race. VEC member Mona Fitzpatrick revealed that the TUI had been advised that there are no facilities in place for outside examiners to examine the students in the oral Irish in the Junior Cert, and it is being left to individual teachers to examine their own students. She called for the department to put external examiners in place. "I would like to be doing oral Irish exams with my Junior Cert students - that is not actually possible at the moment. The department should be asked to talk to the unions about this issue and come to an agreement." With increased mark going to the oral in Irish, a lot of Junior Cert students would like to do it.Sean McKiernan congratulated Virginia College on its initiative and the fact that this is going ahead should also enhance the prospects for the provision of the Gael scoil in Killinkere. Mary Brady said it was vital initiative as Irish was now recognised in Europe and she wished Virginia College well in its endeavours on this front. Niall Lynch wanted to know if additional teachers would have to be appointed if enough students joined the new Irish stream.Karen Fitzpatrick said they had looked at the qualifications of the teachers involved and they are happy to teach the subjects through Irish.The CEO said that as the students progress to second and third year, additional resources will be required. Niamh Smyth congratulated all involved in bringing forward such a creative and innovative idea. It will be a great support to the initiative in Killinkere and both should be supported, she said. David Blake congratulated Karen and Seamus on the initiative and all the other teachers who are going to teach the subjects through Irish.