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Clár oideachais múinteoirí bunscoile trí Ghaeilge á sheoladh ag UCC
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- Oideachas múinteoirí bunscoile ar fáil den chéad uair i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh i gclár nua trí Ghaeilge.
- Tá tús á chur le ré nua don oideachas múinteoirí in UCC le faomhadh ón gComhairle Mhúinteoireachta le haghaidh an chláir nua bunoideachais trí Ghaeilge.
- Ullmhóidh an clár iarchéime nua seo múinteoirí bunscoile le dul ag teagasc trí Ghaeilge, agus tá sé beartaithe go dtosóidh na chéad mhic léinn ar an gclár i mí Mheán Fómhair 2027.
Beidh oideachas múinteoirí bunscoile á thairiscint den chéad uair riamh i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh (UCC), tar éis don Chomhairle Mhúinteoireachta, clár nua oideachais múinteoirí trí Ghaeilge a fhaomhadh.
Tosóidh na chéad mhic léinn ar an Máistreacht Ghairmiúil san Oideachas (Bunoideachas) i mí Mheán Fómhair 2027, agus is iontach an t‑éacht é sin do UCC agus don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge ar an leibhéal náisiúnta araon.
Cúrsa iarchéime Leibhéal 9 a bheidh ann. Mairfidh an cúrsa lánaimseartha dhá bhliain, agus ullmhóidh sé céimithe chun bheith láncháilithe mar mhúinteoirí bunscoile. Cuirfear béim ar leith sa chlár ar an teagasc trí Ghaeilge i suíomhanna tumoideachais.
Le tabhairt isteach an chláir seo, déanfar an obair mhór atá déanta ag UCC san oideachas múinteoirí le fada an lá a leathnú amach go hearnáil an bhunoideachais den chéad uair. Freagróidh an clár freisin do thosaíochtaí náisiúnta maidir le cur leis an soláthar múinteoirí do bhunscoileanna lán-Ghaeilge agus an saineolas oideolaíoch, an cheannaireacht, agus an inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge á neartú ar fud na hearnála chomh maith.
Is trí Ghaeilge amháin a reáchtálfar an Mháistreacht Ghairmiúil san Oideachas (Bunoideachas), agus tabharfar le chéile ann oideolaíocht a bhaineann go sainiúil leis an tumoideachas, ardfhorbairt teanga, cleachtas oideachais atá idir ionchuimsitheach agus chothromasach, agus foghlaim ghairmiúil atá bunaithe ar thaighde.
Forbraíodh an clár trí dhianphróiseas faofa acadúil in UCC, agus is léiriú atá ann ar thiomantas na hOllscoile don tsármhaitheas san oideachas, don cheartas sóisialta, agus don rochtain ar ghairm na múinteoireachta a fhairsingiú.
Dúirt an tAire Oideachais agus Óige, Hildegarde Naughton: “Cuirim fáilte mhór roimh chinneadh Choláiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh clár nua oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge do mhúinteoirí bunscoile a thairiscint ó mhí Mheán Fómhair 2027 ar aghaidh. Is garsprioc shuntasach í seo don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge agus léiríonn sí tiomantas agus comhoibriú na ndaoine uile a d’oibrigh chun an clár a thabhairt ón gcoincheap go dtí an soláthar. Is mian liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis na daoine go léir a raibh baint acu leis an gcéim thábhachtach seo a bhaint amach.”
“Tá muinín agus inniúlacht daoine óga i labhairt na Gaeilge a neartú, laistigh agus lasmuigh den seomra ranga, ar cheann de na príomhthosaíochtaí atá agam mar Aire. Tá leathnú deiseanna chun múinteoirí a oiliúint trí mheán na Gaeilge ríthábhachtach chun an sprioc sin a bhaint amach. Cabhróidh an clár nua seo lena chinntiú go mbeidh soláthar láidir de mhúinteoirí ardcháilithe ann atá feistithe chun oideachas lán-Ghaeilge ar ardchaighdeán a sholáthar, go háirithe i suíomhanna tumoideachais, agus chun tacú le fás leanúnach na nGaelscoileanna agus an tsoláthair lán-Ghaeilge do na glúnta atá le teacht.
“Mar thoradh ar infheistíocht a dhéanamh sa chéad ghlúin eile de mhúinteoirí lán-Ghaeilge, táimid ag infheistiú i dtodhchaí ár dteanga freisin, ag cabhrú lena chinntiú go bhfanfaidh an Ghaeilge ina teanga bheo, bhríomhar i scoileanna agus i bpobail ar fud na tíre.”
Agus fáilte á chur aige roimh an bhfógra, dúirt an tOllamh John O’Halloran MRIA, Uachtarán UCC: “Is iontach an t‑éacht é seo do UCC agus don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge ar an leibhéal náisiúnta araon. Den chéad uair riamh, cuirfidh UCC oideachas ar mhúinteoirí bunscoile, rud a dhéanfaidh an traidisiún seanbhunaithe sármhaitheasa atá againn san oideachas múinteoirí a leathnú amach chuig réimse a bhfuil tábhacht náisiúnta leis. Is léiriú atá ann ar thiomantas UCC do thodhchaí na Gaeilge agus do chinntiú go mbainfidh mic léinn agus pobail níos mó tairbhe as scoth an oideachais trí Ghaeilge.”
Dúirt an Dr T.J. Ó Ceallaigh, Ceann Scoil an Oideachais in UCC a bhí i gceannas ar dhearadh an chláir nua seo atá dírithe ar an tumoideachas: “Bíonn níos mó ná inniúlacht sa teanga féin ag teastáil chun dul i mbun teagaisc trí Ghaeilge. Bíonn gá le tuiscint dhomhain ar oideolaíocht an tumoideachais, ar an gcuraclam, agus ar chomhthéacsanna seomraí ranga éagsúla. Tugtar le chéile na gnéithe sin ar an gclár nua seo in UCC chun teagasc atá bunaithe ar thaighde a chur ar fáil ina gcuirtear béim mhór ar an ionchuimsiú, ar an ilteangachas agus ar an idirchultúrachas.”
“Trí shamhail foghlama cumaisc, bealaí solúbtha chun dul chun cinn a dhéanamh, agus tacaíochtaí pleanáilte réamhiontrála ó thaobh na Gaeilge de, is mian linn an rochtain a fhairsingiú agus an saineolas agus an mhuinín a thabhairt do chéimithe san am céanna chun bheith ina múinteoirí den chéad scoth san oideachas lán-Ghaeilge” arsa an Dr Ó Ceallaigh.
Beidh seimineár eolais ar siúl ar 27 Deireadh Fómhair ag 18:30. Tá sonraí breise ar an gclár, iarratais agus riachtanais iontrála ina measc, le fáil anseo.
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UCC launches primary teacher education through Irish programme
- University College Cork to offer primary teacher education for first time with new Irish-medium programme.
- Teaching Council approval marks new era for teacher education at UCC with Irish-medium primary programme.
- New postgraduate programme will prepare primary teachers to teach through Irish, with first intake planned for September 2027
University College Cork (UCC) is set to offer primary teacher education for the first time in its history, following approval by the Teaching Council, of a new Irish-medium primary teacher education programme.
The Máistreacht Ghairmiúil san Oideachas (Bunoideachas) will welcome its first students in September 2027, marking a significant milestone for UCC and for Irish-medium education nationally.
The two-year, full-time Level 9 postgraduate programme will prepare graduates to become fully qualified primary teachers, with a particular focus on teaching through the medium of Irish in immersion settings.
The introduction of the programme will extend UCC’s longstanding contribution to teacher education into the primary sector for the first time. It will also respond to national priorities around increasing the supply of teachers for Irish-medium primary schools and strengthening pedagogical expertise, leadership and Irish-language proficiency across the sector.
Delivered entirely through Irish, the Máistreacht Ghairmiúil san Oideachas (Bunoideachas) will combine immersion-specific pedagogy, advanced language development, inclusive and equitable educational practice, and research-informed professional learning.
The programme has been developed through a rigorous academic approval process within UCC and reflects the University’s commitment to excellence in education, social justice and widening access to the teaching profession.
Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton said: “I warmly welcome the decision by University College Cork to offer a new Irish-medium primary teacher education programme from September 2027. This is a significant milestone for Irish-medium education and reflects the commitment and collaboration of all those who have worked to bring the programme from concept to delivery. I want to congratulate everyone involved in reaching this important stage."
“One of my key priorities as Minister is to strengthen the confidence and competence of young people in speaking Irish, both within and beyond the classroom. Expanding opportunities to train teachers through the medium of Irish is central to achieving that goal. This new programme will help ensure a strong pipeline of highly skilled teachers who are equipped to deliver high-quality Irish-medium education, particularly in immersion settings, and to support the continued growth of Gaelscoileanna and Irish-medium provision for generations to come.”
“By investing in the next generation of Irish-medium teachers, we are also investing in the future of our language, helping to ensure that Irish remains a vibrant, living language in schools and communities across the country.”
Welcoming the announcement, Professor John O’Halloran MRIA, President of UCC, said: “This is a landmark moment for UCC and for Irish-medium education nationally. For the first time in our history, UCC will educate primary teachers, extending our longstanding tradition of excellence in teacher education into an area of vital national importance. It reflects UCC’s commitment to the future of the Irish language and to ensuring that more students and communities can benefit from outstanding education through Irish.”
Dr T. J. Ó Ceallaigh, Head of the School of Education at UCC, who led the design of the new immersion-focused programme, said: “Teaching through Irish demands more than language proficiency. It requires a deep understanding of immersion pedagogy, curriculum and the realities of diverse classrooms. UCC’s programme brings these elements together, combining research-led teaching with a strong focus on inclusion, plurilingualism and interculturalism.”
“Through a blended learning model, flexible progression routes and planned pre-entry Irish-language supports, we want to widen access while equipping graduates with the expertise and confidence to become outstanding teachers in Irish-medium education,” Dr Ó Ceallaigh said.
An information webinar will be held on 27 October at 18:30. Further details on the programme, including applications and entry requirements, are available.