Language directive to be withdrawn

The Government is to withdraw a controversial directive which had forced Irish-language primary schools to abandon total immersion as a means of teaching the language.

Circular 44, introduced by Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin in July 2007, directed all Irish language primary schools to teach English for 30 minutes every day despite opposition from Irish language groups and educationalists.

The decision to withdraw the circular came in the form of an announcement this afternoon from the press office of Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe.

It follows two years of intensive campaigning by language groups and a legal case brought before the High Court by two schools - Gaelscoil Nás na Rí and Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn in Tralee.

Gaelscoileanna had sought total immersion for the first year of education.

The circular directed the introduction of English into the classroom from no later than the start of the second term of the junior infant class.

The Department of Education was accused by Conradh na Gaeilge of "weakening the Irish language in the education system for some time” following the introduction of Circular 44.

Irish language groups say the policy of total immersion – where students are taught exclusively through the medium of Irish – is the best method of learning a language.

The Government is now proposing to prescribe the primary curriculum by regulation and to delay the ending of total immersion up to the end of the first term of senior infants.

The Department of Education said this must be done with the approval of the school’s board of management and following consultation with the patron, teachers and parents’ association.

However, the department said that if English is sought by a parent from the outset, then the school must agree to teach the language.

The Minister is to provide a copy of the draft regulation to the education partners and Irish language organisations before presenting it to the Houses of the Oireachtas over the coming weeks.