According to the primary school curriculum,

"Education is an important factor both in the day-to-day development of the child and in contributing to the personal, social, cultural and economic fulfilment of the future adult"

We currently live in an ever-growing multicultural society where there are many different nationalities speaking many different languages. Yet the only languages offered at primary level are Gaeilge and English. Gaeilge has a very comprehensive curriculum and the content is presented under four strands:

Éisteacht (Listening)

Labhairt (Speaking)

Léitheoireacht (Reading)

Scríbhneoireacht (Writing).

This is excellent- but why can't we see this for other languages (e.g. French, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish)?

Living in such a diverse society, with many international students, there IS a huge need for extra time spent in class discussing different languages and culture.

This petition proposes to the Government that a "Languages and Culture" class be included in the primary school curriculum whereby pupils learn to listen,speak,read and write different languages and have time to learn about and immerse themselves in different cultures.

Support and comments welcome.

References:

Primary School Curriculum. Available: (http://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/c4a88a62-7818-4bb2-bb18-4c4ad37bc255/PSEC_Introduction-to-Primary-Curriculum_Eng.pdf.) Last accessed 12/05/2014 17.32