I dtreo na Fostaiochta / Irish Medium Further Education Programme
Background
Since 1999, Forbairt Feirste have organised and delivered the ‘I dtreo na Fostaiochta’ Irish Medium training programme aimed at providing for IM pupils.
The I dtreo na Fostaiochta programme is focused on providing a whole package approach to students. This whole package approach is very much in line with the current DENI & DEL policies which aim to keep students at school longer and also allows them to access a wider range of subjects/skills at post 16 which leads directly to employement..
The programme is the only one of its kind in the North and provides Irish medium students with a bespoke and very personal post 16 provision. The courses are very much tailored around the students and all their needs whether at school or at college. Irish medium placements are arranged especially for the students as part of their post-16 package and they are provided with help in accessing, applying and looking for jobs once they have finished their courses.
The Irish Medium job sector also benefits greatly from the growth of this provision, with increased numbers of young Irish Medium speakers going on to work within the sector, particularly in the Irish Medium education sector. This is welcomed news for the up and coming Gaeltacht Quarter, which is promoting the language and its use economically.
Current programme:
The current programme is managed by an IM co-ordinator. A post which is funded by DEL through BMC. The programme is now at a stage where it is starting to make inroads on the needs of the IM sector in relation to Vocational and FE provision.
In 2007, the IM co-ordinator, identified the needs of the IM sector. These needs were:
- An increased number of vocational subjects available through Irish needed.
- A co-ordinated approach to matching up Irish medium students who are training in vocational areas with Irish medium employers.
- An increase in the level of co-operation between Colaiste Feirste and the wider FE and Vocational sector.
The current programme is based on a three strand approach. Strand 1 provides for IM students who leave school and study full time at BMC, this provision is a bilingual provision. Strand 2 provides for IM students wishing to return to school to do a mix of A-level and vocational courses, this is a bilingual provision. Strand 3 involves the introduction of vocational subjects through the medium of Irish, this provision is entirely through Irish.
This three strand approach meets the needs identified by the sector in 2007. Although a lot of work still needs to be done in consolidating and adding to this work the effect can already be seen on the ground. For the first time ever IM students have an increased number of vocational options open to them. There are also an increased number of young qualified Irish speakers now going into employment within the sector.
In 2010, CCEA, I dtreo na Fostaiochta and Edexcel, engaged in a partnership which will allow the delivery of all BTEC qualifications through the medium of Irish. This has been a huge breakthrough for the Irish medium sector and is a huge step towards addressing the curriculum and training needs of Irish medium students and employers. For the first time since IM post-primary education was set up students have numerous vocational subjects available to them through Irish.