20 Deireadh Fomhair 2010 - Foinse Editorial

ORIGINAL IRISH TEXT: Tá an Ghaeilge ag cur le ‘geilleagar cliste’ na tíre Dá ngearrfaí an t-airgead a chaitear ar mhúineadh na Gaeilge i scoileanna na tíre seo, tubaiste a bheadh ann. Tá feabhas tagtha ar íomhá na Gaeilge i measc na ndaoine óga le cúpla bliain anuas. Leis an siollabas nua Gaeilge, seans go dtiocfaidh tuilleadh feabhais ar an íomhá sin. Ba mhór an trua an dea-obair go léir a chur amú ag an bpointe seo. Aithnímid ar fad go bhfuil fadhb againn maidir le líon na ndaltaí atá ag déanamh staidéir ar an Matamaitic ag an ardleibhéal san Ardteist. Ní aontaímid áfach go leigheasfadh an gearradh siar ar mhúineadh na Gaeilge an fhadhb seo. Ó bheith ag labhairt le múinteoirí i scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge agus i scoileanna ar fud na tíre is cosúil go bhfuil dlúthcheangal idir ardchumas Gaeilge agus ardchumas Matamaitice. Go deimhin is cosúil go n-éiríonn go han-mhaith le daltaí sna scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge sa Mhatamaitic agus sna hábhair eolaíochta trí chéile. Dá bhrí sin ní haon bhac ar an ngeilleagar cliste an Ghaeilge ach a mhalairt. ENGLISH TRANSLATION: The Irish language adds to the country’s ‘intelligent economy’ It would be disastrous to cut back on the money spent on the teaching of the Irish language in the country’s schools. The Irish language has had an improved image among the young people in the last couple of years. Perhaps this image may be further improved with the new Irish language syllabus. At this point, it would be a great pity to waste all the good work. We all recognise that we have a problem regarding the number of pupils studying higher level Mathematics in the Leaving Cert. We do not agree, however, that cutting back on the teaching of the Irish language will solve this problem. From speaking with teachers in all-Irish language schools and in schools throughout the country it seems that high Irish language ability and high Mathematics ability are closely linked. Certainly it is likely that pupils in all-Irish schools are very successful in Mathematics and in the science subjects overall. Therefore the Irish language is no obstacle to the smart economy, but the opposite. http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/translation/topic102526.html