Teachers back segregation plan for immigrant children with no English
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Tuesday August 19 2008
TEACHERS have supported Fine Gael's call for non-English speaking immigrant children to be taught separately.
Secondary teachers' union ASTI said it would give its backing to the concept of immigrants being taught apart -- temporarily.
Fine Gael's education spokesman Brian Hayes said children should not be put into a mainstream class until they have a competence for it. "If that requires segregation, well then we have got to segregate the child in the best interests of that child," he said.
However, the ASTI said it preferred not to use the word 'segregation'.
Mr Hayes said many parents are frustrated at the effect on their children's education of the lack of segregation. And he was unapologetic for using the word 'segregation' despite its associations with the civil rights struggle in the US.
Concern
Mr Hayes said he is concerned for migrant children being "left behind" in their Junior and Leaving Certificate studies.
"They need proper English language training but my view is at the moment is that's not happening," he added.
He admitted his views are controversial "but the bottom line is that I have only the interest of the new Irish at heart".
At the moment, the Government spends €200m annually funding 2,000 English language support teachers to provide an average of four hours teaching to immigrant school children during every school week.
However, the children must return to normal classes for the rest of the school week, even if they cannot understand what is being said.
The ASTI preferred to describe the teaching of immigrant children apart as putting them in "immersion classes" rather than "segregation".
The union said understanding English is vital for the integration of immigrant children in schools.
It believes more English language support teachers will be required to provide the full immersion classes.
Studies
The Department of Education has commissioned three research studies into the teaching of immigrant children in the education system.
It is awaiting the outcome of these research studies before deciding whether changes are required.
- Cormac Murphy
