"Bilingual teaching will undermine the rights of Gaeltacht children" - claim

Tuismitheoiri na Gaeltachta, the parents group advocating the continuation of an all-Irish teaching policy in Dingle's Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne have stated that if bilingual teaching is introduced in the school it will "undermine the right of Gaeltacht children to an education through Irish in West Kerry." A number of local families have instigated high court action against the school in an effort to secure the option of bilingual teaching, in English and in Irish, for students at Dingle's only public secondary school. Tuismitheoiri na Gaeltachta are opposed to this and support the school's stance on adopting an all-Irish teaching policy. "Some parents want their children educated through English and that is their choice, but it should not replace the right of Gaeltacht children to an Irish language education" read the statement. "The language of instruction and the language of communication are both vital to Gaeltacht schools. If two languages are used for instruction, the dominant stronger language will become the language of communication."A ‘bilingual’ policy in Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne would change the language of communication between students and their teachers to English, giving way to a Gaeltacht school run through English, with some subjects taught through Irish." The group taking the High Court action, Concerned Parents of Chorca Dhuibhne, have stated on previous occasions to the press that, as the only public post-primary school in Dingle, they are fighting for a bilingual teaching options, in Irish and English, in an effort to afford all students an equal chance in achieving their full potential at the school. The group were contacted for comment but were unable to due to the pending High Court proceedings. The case by the Concerned Parents Group against the school is due to be heard on July 7th.