ETBI Journal of Education - Vol 2:2 November 2020 (Irish-medium Education)

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ETBI Journal of Education November 2020 the language-based criteria for Gaeltacht school recognition. The advisory sessions carried out by the Inspectorate will continue in 2020/21, in accordance with Departmental Circulars 0040/2020 and 0041/2020. As a result of the challenges presented by COVID-19, health and wellness circumstances must be taken into account and guidance on continuity of learning will be given to support the implementation of the curriculum and immersion education. INDICATORS OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR IMMERSION EDUCATION - GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS With the support of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), the Indicators of Good Practice for Immersion Education: Draft Guide for Gaeltacht Primary Schools and Indicators of Good Practice for Immersion Education: Draft Guide for Gaeltacht Post-primary Schools, published in 2018, have been reviewed to take into account feedback received from stakeholders and schools. In the new versions, specific guidance has been provided for boards of management to support the implementation of immersion education in schools. The new versions of both guides will soon be published on the Department of Education’s website to replace the draft guides published in 2018. Hard copies of the Guides will also issue to primary and post-primary Gaeltacht schools. RESEARCH AND EVALUATION STUDY OF THE GAELTACHT SCHOOL RECOGNITION SCHEME The Education Research Centre (ERC), the Gaeltacht Education Unit and the Inspectorate are undertaking evaluation and research jointly to assess the impact of the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme. Case-studies on twelve primary and seven post-primary schools across various socio-linguistic contexts in the Gaeltacht have been completed. The reports of these casestudies have been issued to each participating school to incorporate the views of school management. Each participating school had the opportunity to engage in self-reflection and consider the principal findings of the evaluation and research undertaken in their school. Schools have been invited to write a short report on the best aspects of immersion education they have implemented, the greatest challenges, and the benefits derived by students from the immersion education experience to date. The school’s report will be included in the final case-study report of each participating school. The ERC, in conjunction with the Gaeltacht Education Unit and the Inspectorate, is analysing the findings arising from focus groups with parents and teachers, which took place in participating case-study schools between September 2019 and February 2020, and the findings from student and parent questionaires, which were distributed to all Gaeltacht primary and post-primary schools in the Scheme. As soon as the analysis has been completed, a composite interim report on the impact of the Scheme on Gaeltacht schools and their communities will be published. Due to the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 health emergency, the timeline for ERC research activities in schools has been reviewed, especially in relation to the tests designed by the ERC to assess pupils’ attainment in Irish and early literacy. PAGE 20
ETBI Journal of Education November 2020 A central part of the ERC research work underway includes the Irish-language earlyliteracy tests (group tests) developed for pupils at the beginning of first class and listening tests (group tests) for sixth class pupils, in each Gaeltacht primary school. In addition, oral tests in Irish have been designed for pupils at the beginning of first class and individual oral tests in Irish for pupils in sixth class, which will be administered in a sample of schools. An arrangement has been made with the Language Centre, Maynooth University, to administer the European Certificate in Irish (TEG) Oral Irish Test to third-year students in the post-primary schools participating in the case-studies. E-HUB PILOT PROJECT Under the terms of the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme, post-primary schools in the Gaeltacht were invited to take part in the e-hub pilot project. The objective of this pilot project is to use online provision to add to the range of subjects available through the medium of Irish for students in Gaeltacht post-primary schools, beginning with Leaving Certificate Physics at Higher Level. In September 2018, the e-hub pilot project was initiated in Coláiste na Coiribe, under the auspices of Galway-Roscommon ETB, and in Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, Co. Kerry, the two schools where the e-hub teachers are employed. Twenty students from seven ETB post-primary schools are currently participating in this innovative digital project. Two students, from the first cohort of students who participated in the e-Hub pilot project for Leaving Certificate Physics, completed their Leaving Certificate in 2020 and performed incredibly well. EVALUATION OF THE E-HUB PILOT PROJECT An independent external evaluation is currently being conducted by the Education and Skills Inspectorate in Northern Ireland, on behalf of the Department of Education, in order to assess the impact of the Gaeltacht e-hub pilot project. The students’ learning experience, the quality of student participation, and teaching methodologies will be evaluated. The opinions of students and their parents, principals, e-hub teachers, e-mentors and other parties involved in the pilot project will be analysed. The findings of this evaluation will give an insight into the strengths and benefits of the Gaeltacht digital project and into aspects in need of development. These findings will inform the future development of online educational provision through the medium of Irish through the use of blended learning. IRISH-MEDIUM TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMMES In order to achieve the Policy objective of developing Irish-language proficiency among teachers for the delivery of high-quality Irishmedium education in schools, two new Irishmedium teacher education programmes, funded by the Gaeltacht Education Unit, were established. A blended-learning Master of Education (M.Ed.) on Irish-medium and Gaeltacht Education commenced in September 2018 in Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, with up to 30 funded places available annually. An Irish-medium B.Ed. programme for primary teachers commenced in Marino Institute of Education, Dublin in September 2019, with up to 30 places funded annually. Two monitoring PAGE 21
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ETBI Journal of Education - Vol 2:2 November 2020 (Irish-medium Education)

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