https___aontu.ie_eilionn-ionadai-aontu-oirthear-dhoire-gemma-brolly-freagra-no-teagmhail-dhireach-agus-beart-on-aire-oideachais-i-leith-na-litreach-oscailte-o-an-greasan-nar-tugadh-freagra-di-inar-cuireadh-imni-in-iul-faoin-easpa-solathair-maidir-le-staidear-a-dheanamh-ar-an-ghaeilge_1.xml
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Education Must Respond to 'Unanswered' Open Letter about Lack of Irish Language Provision Aontú Representative for East Derry Gemma Brolly demands immediate response and action from the Minister of Education to the ‘unanswered’ open letter from “An Gréasán” expressing concerns for the lack of provision enabling the study of the Irish language. Following years of continuous neglect to honour the Good Friday Agreement by honouring the statutory obligation to "encourage and facilitate Irish medium education” many citizens from a range of professional backgrounds under the network “An Gréasán” signed and delivered a letter to the current minister of Education, Michelle McIlveen detailing their many concerns and calling upon “the legislative bodies of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Department of Education and their arm’s length bodies, such as CCEA, as well as the Education Authority, to intercede as matter of urgency to reverse the worrying trends in the study of the Irish language and other languages in English medium post-primary schools.” This professional body of people, citizens of the North of Ireland communicated their deep concerns, giving thorough explanations and possible solutions, trusting these concerns would be addressed by the Minister of Education and her department in a polite and timely manner. I am extremely disappointed and disheartened to learn that “An Gréasan” have to this date not yet received a response, even when it was stated ‘urgent’ and even when it was sent again in case it had been ‘misplaced.’ This is absolutely inexcusable. “An Gréasan” have echoed the concerns here of hundreds, thousands of people who simply request ‘cothrom na féinne’ / a fair playing field regarding the study of languages, in this case the Irish language and for the Department along with all connected bodies to facilitate and encourage Irish Medium Education, it appears even to facilitate a reply is a step too far. The minister cannot neglect this sector of education as she appears to have this communication. She must be held to account and reminded of her dutiful obligation to facilitate the education of all citizens, as enshrined not only in the Good Friday Agreement, but in the United Nations Convention of Human Rights. Aontú demand the minister address these concerns, as a matter of urgency and engage with those involved personally following this very disappointing failure to respond on two occasions already. The minister must represent and work to improve the education system, each and every sector for all the children within the North. Education in the Irish language is no exception.
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Éilíonn Ionadaí Aontú Oirthear Dhoire Gemma Brolly freagra nó teagmháil dhíreach agus beart ón Aire Oideachais i leith na litreach oscailte ó “An Gréasán” nár tugadh freagra di inar cuireadh imní in iúl faoin easpa soláthair maidir le staidéar a dhéanamh ar an Ghaeilge. Éilíonn Ionadaí Aontú Oirthear Dhoire Gemma Brolly freagra nó teagmháil dhíreach agus beart ón Aire Oideachais i leith na litreach oscailte ó “An Gréasán” nár tugadh freagra di inar cuireadh imní in iúl faoin easpa soláthair maidir le staidéar a dhéanamh ar an Ghaeilge. I ndiaidh blianta gan an dualgas reachtúil i gComhaontú Aoine an Chéasta a chomhlíonadh maidir le Gaeloideachas a spreagadh agus a fhorbairt, scríobh roinnt saoránach ó réimse cúlraí gairmiúla faoi scáth líonra dar teideal “An Gréasán” litir chuig an Aire Oideachais, Michelle Mhic Giolla Bhéin ag míniú a gcuid ábhar imní agus ag iarraidh ar "chomhlachtaí reachtacha Thionól Thuaisceart Éireann, ar an Roinn Oideachais agus ar a ranna tánaisteacha, amhail CCEA, chomh maith leis an Údarás Oideachais, idirghabháil a dhéanamh ar bhonn práinne leis na treochtaí diúltacha maidir le staidéar na Gaeilge agus teangacha eile sna hiarbhunscoileanna Béarla a chasadh ar mhalairt treo." Chuir an dream gairmiúil seo, ar saoránaigh na 6 chontae iad, a gcuid ábhar imní in iúl, ag tabhairt mioneolais ar na fadhbanna agus ag cur réitigh féideartha chun cinn, agus coinne acu go dtabharfadh an tAire Oideachais agus a roinn aghaidh ar bhonn dea-bhéasach agus tráthúil. Tháinig lagmhisneach agus díoma orm nuair a d’fhoghlaim mé nach bhfuair “An Gréasán” freagra ar bith go fóill, fiú nuair a maíodh ar an litir go raibh sé práinneach agus arís nuair a seoladh í an athuair ar eagla gur imigh sí "ar strae". Níl leithscéal ar bith leis seo. Tá ábhair imní na gcéadta agus na mílte duine luaite agus athluaite ag “An Gréasan” nach bhfuil ag iarraidh ach "cothrom na féinne" a bhaint amach a mhéid a bhaineann le staidéar a dhéanamh ar theangacha, an Ghaeilge sa chás seo, agus go ndéanfadh an Roinn agus a cuid comhlachtaí gaolmhara eile an Gaeloideachas a éascú agus a fhorbairt. Sin ráite, tá an chuma ar an scéal nach dtig leo freagra a éascú don litir seo fiú amháin. Ní féidir leis an Aire neamart a dhéanamh ar an earnáil oideachais seo díreach mar a rinne sí neamart ar an chumarsáid ó “An Gréasán”. Caithfidh sí bheith freagrach agus ní mór a chur i gcuimhne di an dualgas reachtúil atá aici an t-oideachas a sholáthar do gach uile shaoránach, mar a leagtar síos ní hamháin i gComhaontú Aoine an Chéasta, ach i gCoinbhinsiún na Náisiún Aontaithe um Chearta Daonna fosta. Éilíonn Aontú ar an Aire aghaidh a thabhairt ar na hábhair imní seo go práinneach agus dul i dteagmháil leis na daoine atá buailte leis seo go pearsanta, i ndiaidh don Roinn neamhaird a thabhairt ar an dá litir. Caithfidh an tAire ionadaíocht a dhéanamh ar pháistí uile thuaisceart na hÉireann agus iarracht a dhéanamh an córas oideachais ina iomláine a fheabhsú. Ní ceart oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge a bheith ina eisceacht.