Culture
Masters in Irish Medium and Gaeltacht Education for teachers the newest addition at MIC
Masters in Irish Medium and Gaeltacht Education launched by: Professor Eugene Wall, President, Mary Immaculate College, Dr T.J. Ó Ceallaigh, Programme Director and Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh, T.D. Picture: Brian Arthur
Masters in Irish Medium and Gaeltacht Education for teachers the newest addition at MIC
The Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh T.D launched a new Masters in Irish Medium and Gaeltacht Education (M.Ed.) at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.
This innovative postgraduate programme for primary and post-primary teachers was announced in order to increase the provision of teachers in the education system who teach through the Irish medium.
The Minister signed a six-year contract, worth €2.1 million, for this postgraduate degree between Mary Immaculate College and the Department of Education and Skills.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh T.D. said, “It is great that specific entry criteria for Irish language proficiency are required to gain a place on this postgraduate programme. This programme constitutes a wonderful opportunity to provide different options for participants who wish to gain expertise in the field of Gaeltacht and Irish-medium education.
In order to ensure that participants of the highest possible calibre and optimum suitability are participating in the programme, successful candidates must provide evidence that they have achieved Level B1 standard in Irish in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, an assessment which is externally accredited.
This teacher education programme represents another step in the implementation of the Gaeltacht Education Policy 2017-2022 and encompasses part of a greater national plan to tackle issues related to the supply of teachers.
This part-time M.Ed. degree is at Level 9 of the National Qualifications Framework and is accredited by the University of Limerick.
This is another important step towards the provision of various supports for Gaeltacht and Irish-medium education. The College must provide at least 70% of the programme in an institutional setting with face-to-face mechanisms, with a maximum of 30% of the provision to be online over the course of the two years of the M.Ed. programme.
Through this programme, students can undertake a Postgraduate Certificate, a Postgraduate Diploma or a Master’s in Education through the medium of Irish.
The President of Mary Immaculate College, Professor Eugene Wall said “In keeping with the mission of the College, Mary Immaculate College is deeply mindful of its responsibility to support and enrich pedagogical competencies, leadership and research in language immersion and Gaeltacht education. We are looking forward to collaborating in this work, with the Aonad um Oideachas Gaeltachta in the Department of Education and Skills and with all other stakeholders to provide an exceptional postgraduate, blended learning, cross-sectoral programme for the sector.”
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