IPPN

'Language of educational apartheid'

Published: 12 December 2008

A Eagarthóir, - Kate Holmquist ("Language of Educational Apartheid", December 9th) states: "Spoken by choice, the [Irish] language blossoms; learned by force, it shrivels and is hard to crack." If this were true, then surely the same would be true of English, French, Spanish and a whole host of other colonial languages that were forced on people the world over.

The bonus scheme at Leaving Cert is a small incentive aimed at encouraging pupils to take the exam through Irish. However, Ms Holmquist misrepresents the facts on this matter. According to the State Examinations Commission, the 10 per cent is only given to students who fully complete the written examinations of certain subjects through Irish and who have received 75 per cent or less marks. In other subjects the bonus is either 5 per cent, 3 per cent or none at all. The bonus also reduces along a scale for those who attain 75 per cent or more.

Ms Holmquist correctly sees this as positive discrimination, but fails to see how Irish-medium pupils are also negatively discriminated against. From the Language Commissioner's 2007 investigation into the Department of Education and Science, "Of the 32 subjects for which syllabuses were available in English for the Leaving Certificate (excluding the specific examination subjects of English and Irish) Irish versions of 19 of those were not available".

Also how many Leaving Cert. study guides, supplements in national newspapers, online supports are available for pupils through Irish and how many Irish-language grind schools are there? The fact is that despite these disadvantages Irish-medium pupils sometimes outperform their English-medium counterparts. Colin Baker's research outlines that there are noticeable benefits to bilingualism at a young age. These benefits are manifested in Ireland in Irish-medium schools and implemented through the internationally respected education model of early total immersion, not to mention the commitment and hard work of the parents, staff and the pupils themselves. - Le meas,

SEÁN Ã“ HADHMAILL,

Plás Uí Artaigh,

Baile Átha Cliath 8.

Madam, - In her rage against Gaelscoileanna, Kate Holmquist omits some important facts.

The 10 per cent bonus in examinations for students taking them through Irish (partly) makes up for the dire lack of textbooks and the shortage of appropriately qualified teachers in a wide range of subjects. Gaelscoileanna are the fruit of local voluntary initiatives, with parents and teachers contributing an immense amount of free time and labour to get them up and running.

This is especially true of Gaelscoileanna in less advantaged areas like Ballymun and West Belfast. Many are housed in rotting, prefabricated buildings a decade or more after opening. Gaelscoileanna welcome students of all religious, ethnic and national backgrounds. By promoting genuine bilingualism they truly educate children for a multicultural society. Those involved with Gaelscoileanna are accustomed to government apathy, civil service obstruction and the contempt of lazy journalists. But to compare their patient hard work on behalf of the Irish language with the criminal and racist system of apartheid is shameful indeed. - Yours, etc,

JOHN HARRINGTON,

Ivanhoe Road,

Liverpool.

A bhean uasal, - I read with dismay Kate Holmquist's article on the "scandal" that extra marks are awarded to students who study Leaving Certificate subjects through Irish.

Any student with a basic grasp of primary school Irish is capable of successfully studying a subject through Irish in second level. This is not wealth or race dependent. (A Vietnamese immigrant to Ireland has recently proved that). Thus there is no apartheid.

Ms Holmquist maintains she appreciates the Irish language. Is this only as long as others make the effort to keep it alive?

In an era (and this very recent) when more people seem to be interested in and proud of their national tongue, I would have thought extra marks for subjects done through Irish would be welcomed by those who genuinely appreciate our language and I am disappointed that someone should make efforts in our national newspaper to undermine one of the few incentives in this country to use it.

Ms Holmquist rages that "this is positive discrimination, and it wouldn't be tolerated anywhere else".

A little nod to our history might explain to Ms Holmquist why promotion of our almost extinguished national language is necessary. This isn't anywhere else. - Is mise le meas,

DÃ“NAL DE PUINSE,

Waterfall,

Near Cork