Take the opportunity to share your views on the future of education before the survey closes on 28 February

The Minister for Education and Youth has launched a national conversation on the future of education. Anyone who wishes to express their views – young people, parents, educators and the general public – can contribute to shaping the future of Ireland’s education system.

We want to make sure that naíonraí and Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools will be well represented in the consultations.

You can include a written submission along with your survey, to include the issues that matter most to you in your own words.

Gaeloideachas will be putting forward recommendations in the form of a submission as part of the survey, and we encourage anyone who can to do likewise. The full text of our submission can be read here, in Irish and English.

The question to be answered is: What would the Irish education system need to provide a positive learning experience that would enable every child and young person to succeed in a rapidly changing world?

Our recommendations are:

Make the benefits of immersion education available to everyone

No child, young person or young person should be forced to attend English-medium provision because all-Irish provision is not available to them – because it does not exist, because it is over-demanded, because the playgroup or school is not equipped to meet their needs, or otherwise.

Support quality

Ensure that there is an adequate supply of teachers and support staff with fluent Irish available to work in playgroups and schools, and pay them an allowance.

Be inclusive

Every child and young person in this country must have the opportunity to have contact with Irish and learn the language at a level that is appropriate for them – including students newly arrived in Ireland and students with additional needs.

Share your suggestions

The link to take the survey is here.

If you would like to make a submission as part of it, you must have it ready in MS Word or PDF format and it must be under 1,000 words.

A submission cannot be made without completing the survey.

Encourage others to take part

We ask you to spread the word among your community so that the needs of naíonraí and Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools are included in this National Conversation.