Author: Becky

Report on Teacher Workload Welcomed

Posted on by Becky

Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (CnaG) welcomes the final report of The Independent Review of Teacher Workload, commissioned by the Department of Education, and in particular, those comments and recommendations relating to the issue of excessive workload in Irish-medium education. 

CnaG met with the Review panel earlier this year and outlined the numerous issues affecting practitioners in the Irish-medium sector, including the findings of a research report carried out by the Centre for Educational Underachievement (CREU) at Stranmillis University, entitled Teacher Workload in the Irish medium Sector; Evidential Insights.  

This research concluded that there were a number of issues, specific to IME, that resulted in IM practitioners working well beyond the recommended 1265 hours, and which had a detrimental effect on morale as well as physical and mental health. These issues include the additional time needed to create suitable resources and assessments, poor accommodation and infrastructure and issues around adequate teacher supply. 

CnaG CEO, Maria Thomasson gave a guarded welcome to the findings of the report but warned that urgent action was now needed to fully address the long-standing issues affecting the IM sector, despite the enduring enthusiasm and dedication of IM practitioners: 

“We welcome the recognition in this report of the unique challenges faced by Irish-medium practitioners. For too long, these dedicated professionals have carried an unfair burden, creating resources and assessments without the support routinely available in English-medium settings. The findings from both the Independent Review Panel and the CREU research confirm what we have long known: excessive workload is having a serious impact on morale and wellbeing. While this acknowledgment is an important step forward, urgent action is now required from the Minister to implement measures that will alleviate these pressures and ensure equity for Irish-medium practitioners.” 

The CREU report Teacher Workload in the Irish medium Sector; Evidential Insights, can be accessed here; Publications – Comhairle English 

The Independent Review of Teacher Workload report can be accessed here: Independent Review of Teacher Workload – Final Report | Department of Education 

Irish-medium Education recognised in Review of the Curriculum

Posted on by Becky

Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta welcomes the recognition given in the Independent Review of the Curriculum, launched by the Department of Education on 3rd June, to the particular challenges that the current curriculum poses to effective teaching and learning in an Irish-medium context. 

Irish-medium practitioners have long recognised that the current curriculum does not deal effectively with the nuances of immersion education and that it was not representative of the learning journey through Irish-medium education. The review’s author, Lucy Crehan, has set out a range of recommendations to address this shortcoming. 

Among the recommendations made in the review, a clear target is set to ‘ensure appropriate curricula and resources for Irish-medium pupils’ and specifically mentions ‘a lack of assessment resources and a lack of professional learning, which are barriers to equality.’ 

The Chief Executive of Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, Maria Thomasson, thanked Lucy Crehan for the opportunities she gave to CnaG and practitioners in the sector to present to the Review panel on the shortcomings of the current curriculum and on recommendations for a new curriculum: 

‘It is clear that Lucy and her colleagues were greatly influenced by what was said by Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta and sectoral practitioners. We are very grateful to have had the opportunity to explain the distinctive learning journey of Irish-medium pupils, in the context of immersion education, and look forward to being fully involved in the implementation of the Review’s recommendations in the future.’ 

A copy of the Review in full can be found here: Review of the Northern Ireland Curriculum | Department of Education 

Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta presents to Stormont Education Committee

Posted on by Becky

Representatives from Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (CnaG) presented to the Assembly Education Committee last week, where the focus was on Special Educational Needs (SEN) in the Irish-medium sector. 

Maria Thomasson, CEO and Orla Nig Fhearraigh, Senior Education Officer addressed the gaps in provision for SEN in the sector, particularly in respect of assessment tools, teaching and learning resources, specialist provisions and the lack of suitably qualified and experienced personnel, who can offer assistance to Irish-medium children, through the medium of Irish. 

Reference was made on numerous occasions to CnaG’s 2025 research paper ‘The Provision for Special Educational Needs and Disability in Irish-medium Education,’ which examines in depth the numerous issues faced by the sector regarding SEN and presents a range of solutions. A copy of the report can be accessed here: Research

Questions from the Education Committee not only focused on SEN but also on work ongoing in the Department of Education on a strategy for Irish-medium education. CnaG will continue to advocate for a comprehensive strategy that will address the many issues facing the sector, not only in regards to SEN but also challenges relating to workforce, accommodation and teaching & learning resources. 

Pictured below, from left, are Ciarán Mackin and Jordy Ó Cathain, the Assembly translators, who provided a translation service for the CnaG’s presentation; Maria Thomasson, CEO and Orla Nig Fhearraigh, SEO. 

 

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