The Eye on Donegal PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
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May 31st 2018
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“Secondary Level Gaelscoil” Aonad Gaeilge Deferred to 2019 By Margaret Gallagher Last January the ETB announced that a post primary Irish education “Aonad Gaeilge” would be established in the AVS. The Donegal ETB had met with parents and students from two local feeder schools, Gaelscoil na gCeithre Maistri in Donegal Town and Gaelscoil Eirne in Ballyshannon to determine the interest and need to establish this education facility locally. An Aonad is an Irish Language post primary education unit that is separate from but situated within the a secondary school. It has been announced this week that the programme has been suspended due to a lack of pupils enrolling; however the situation will be reviewed over the coming academic year. In a statement to The Eye on Donegal the Donegal ETB said: “The absence of a viable cohort of students opting to enroll in the Aonad in September [2018] has meant we have postponed its introduction and the situation will be reviewed over the coming year. Despite a huge effort going into the programme from the school staff and the board of management, there was not enough interest to make the programme viable for this September. The initial commitment
Pictured is Principal Geraldine Diver with Deputy-Principal Ronan Doherty. from the school was to offer the curriculum up to Junior Cycle level. The subjects being offered would include Gaeilge, maths, history, geography, science and religion. Physical education, civics, social and political education (CSpE) and social, personal and health education (SPHE) will come under the new wellbeing subject in the Aonad.” Geraldine Diver, principal of the AVS, commented that the Aonad Gaeilge would have a positive impact overall on the school. “We here and the AVS are very supportive of the programme and realize the passion that the pupils and their parents have for the Irish language and culture. “A lot of the 6th class pupils which are leaving the Gaelscoil this year were interested but when it came to the last hurdle of actually enrolling, some of them panicked about the commitment and decided to drop out. It is a big step for the pupils entering secondary school for the first time and it is not good for them to come here unsure and have a lack of security. “Ms O’Donnell was the lead teacher here in the AVS to deliver the programme and
was fully committed as was the entire staff with a clear plan for the provision of this exciting opportunity for the students. “We have decided to revisit the Aonad Gaeilge next September where I feel there will be a better transition, pupils will be introduced to the idea at the beginning of the year and will have time to discuss and decide,” Ms Diver said. Ms Roisin Ni Chumhaill, Principal of Gaelscoil na gCeithre Maistri, said that when the pupils leave this school they are fluent Irish speakers and she is hoping that the Aonad will go ahead next year. “We have ten pupils in 6th class this year and next year there will be more. Our intentions are to encourage parents and pupils from the beginning of the year and hopefully it will go ahead next year.”
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