"The Irish Language Opens Doors" - Ógra Aontú
As Seachtain na Gaeilge draws to a close, Ógra Aontú representative and Irish Language advocate, Gráinne Nic Philib reflects on how the Irish language has opened endless doors over the years and expressed some of her concerns in relation to the proposed reduction of marks for the oral element of the Leaving Certificate exam:
"I fell in love with Irish at a very young age. I attended a Gaelscoil and as a result of being able to speak the language, I have had many opportunities over the years. Aontú’s policies in relation to the Irish Language attracted me to the party and were one of the main reasons I joined. Aontú stand strong in relation to the Irish Language and they understand the importance of education in strengthening it. It is a cause of concern that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment have recommended that the marks for the Leaving Certificate oral exam are reduced from 40% to 35%. ‘Beatha teanga í a labhairt – The life of a language is to speak it’.
Due to this it is essential that the students of our country leave our schools being able to speak our native language. I call on the NCCA to reverse this recommendation immediately. We need to focus more on breathing life into Irish as a spoken and community language not move away from this by reducing the emphasis on the spoken element in our schools.
Thit mé i ngrá leis an nGaeilge nuair a bhí mé an-óg. D’fhreastail mé ar Ghaelscoil agus is iomaí deiseanna a bhí agam thar na blianta de bharr. Mheall na polasaithe a bhí ag Aontú ó thaobh an Ghaeilge de me chun a bheith mar bhall den pháirtí. Seasann Aontú go láidir ar son na teanga agus tuigeann siad an tábhacht a bhaineann le oideachas chun an Ghaeilge a neartú. Is cúis imní é go bhfuil An Comhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta ag plé na marcanna don scrúdú bhéal san Ardteistiméireacht a laighdú ó 40% go dtí 35%. ‘Beatha teanga í a labhairt’ agus tá sé tharr a bheith tábhachtach go bhfuil scolairí na tíre seo ag fágáil ár scoileanna agus iad in ann ár dteanga dhúchais a labhairt. Táim ag iarr ar an gComhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta an moladh seo a fhreaschuir láithreach. Caithfimid béim a chur ar an nGaeilge mar teanga labhartha in ionad a mhalairt a dhéanamh in ár scoileanna"
- Gráinne, Ógra Aontú
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