Rinneadh oideachas múinteoirí do na Gaelscoileanna a chomóradh i gColáiste Ollscoile Naomh Muire ar na mallaibh nuair a tháinig múinteoirí nuacháilithe de chuid trí chlár acadúla le chéile le Searmanas Tosaigh a cheiliúradh.

Tá Coláiste Ollscoile Naomh Muire i dtús cadhnaíochta i dtaca le soláthar sainiúil d’earnáil an Ghaeloideachais in Éirinn. Mar aon leis na cláir acadúla sa B.Oid agus TICO, soláthraíonn an Coláiste clár Máistreachta san Oideachas a thacaíonn le múinteoirí Gaelscoileanna agus cúrsaí gairmiúla a thacaíonn le Cúntóirí Ranga. Ina theannta sin, bunaíodh an tÁisaonad chomh fada siar le 1998, agus cruthaíonn an tÁisaonad acmhainní agus áiseanna oideachasúla den chaighdeán is airde do Ghaelscoileanna ar fud na hÉireann.



Irish-medium teacher education was the focus of a celebration at St Mary’s University College recently with a commencement ceremony for newly qualified teachers in three academic programmes.

Certificates in both Bilingual Education and in Religious Education were presented to St Mary’s students who had successfully completed the PGCE and BEd programmes in Irish-medium education for primary schools. In addition, six students from Queen’s University and Ulster University received certificates from St Mary’s in the field of post-primary teacher education for the Irish-medium sector.

St Mary’s has a unique range of provision for Irish-medium education (IME) which is the most advanced on the island of Ireland. In addition to its academic programmes at BEd and PGCE levels, the College also provides a Masters in Education degree programme to support Irish-medium teachers, as well as professional courses for classroom assistants. Furthermore, An tÁisaonad (the Irish-Medium Resources Unit) at St Mary’s, which was established as far back as 1998, produces the highest standard of educational resources for Irish-medium schools across Ireland.

Speaking at the annual commencement ceremony the College Principal, Peter Finn, said:

“The commencement ceremony for Irish-medium students is an occasion for celebrating both their achievements and their promising future as the next generation of teachers for Irish-medium schools. Irish-medium teacher education students are familiar with the concept of community. They are valued members of the St Mary’s community, and, as alumni of St Mary’s, they will remain confident in their identity and in their strengths. The Irish-medium students’ commencement is celebrated with a sense of expectation for their future success.”

The ceremony at St Mary’s started with a Mass of Thanksgiving, which was celebrated by the Bishop of Derry, Dr Donal McKeown. This was followed by the presentation of certificates in bilingual education, special awards to students and a series of presentations by members of the Irish-medium education community in the north. Family and friends of the newly qualified teachers, as well as College staff and visitors, then enjoyed a celebratory lunch.