Arising from the decision of the Minister for Education and Science which was announced in a Press Statement issued on June 24 1999, a change is to be implemented at the beginning of the 1999/2000 school year as regards the Irish language requirement for appointment as a teacher in Post-Primary schools.

From that date onwards, although there will no longer be an Irish language requirement for appointment as a Post-Primary teacher in the case of the majority of teachers who do not need to use Irish to carry out their daily duties, there will still be an Irish language requirement in the case of teachers who are employed in Gaeltacht schools, in the case of teachers who are employed in schools in which Irish is the daily teaching medium (in the case of subjects other than Irish) and in the case of teachers who teach any subject (except Irish) through Irish in any school. It will be expected, however, that they are fully competent to use Irish.

Teachers who are required to have a Certificate in Irish for Post- Primary schools:

An Irish language Certificate for Post-Primary schools is necessary to fulfill the requirement in Irish for appointment as a teacher in Post- Primary schools in the case of the following categories:

• teachers employed in Gaeltacht schools
• teachers who are employed in schools in which Irish is the daily teaching medium (in the case of subjects other than Irish)
• teachers who teach any subject (except Irish) through Irish in any school.


The Oral Examination

The examination for a Certificate in Irish for Post-Primary Teachers will consist of an Oral Examination for which a syllabus entitled Syllabus for the Certificate in Irish for Post-Primary Teachers is available from the State Examinations Commission, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. N37 TP65

Purpose of the Oral Examination:

The purpose of the Oral Examination is to assess the oral and communication skills of the candidate in the following areas:


• (i) day-to-day affairs and issues based on the topics outlined in the Syllabus
• (ii) conversation about the applicant’s curriculum vitae
• (iii) conversation relating to teaching, to the candidate’s qualifications and to general school work.

Standard of Oral Examination:

The following two features are included in the Oral Examination:


• (a) Irish vocabulary: range and depth of vocabulary and candidate’s idiomatic expressions as he/she communicates and expresses thoughts, ideas and feelings.
• (b) linguistic ability: candidate’s ability to use principal features of correct Irish usage (syntax and structures, grammar and inflections, rhythm and pronunciation)

Eligible Candidates:

Only candidates who hold Post-Primary teaching qualifications recognised by the Department of Education and Skills, or candidates who are preparing for such qualifications and who are currently in the final year of their training course, are normally eligible for the Certificate in Irish for Post-Primary Teachers i.e. the Oral Examination.

Candidates who are not in the categories mentioned in the above paragraph entitled Teachers who are required to have Certificate in Irish for Post-Primary schools may still apply for this qualification.

Exemption from Examination:

Exemption from the examination for the Irish language Certificate for Post Primary Teachers applies to candidates who hold a degree in Irish, with Irish as a subject in the final examination, from a recognised degree-awarding authority or who have passed the Oral Irish Examination for registration as a Secondary Teacher, or who have passed the Oral Examination in the Certificate for Teaching Irish or who have passed the Oral Examination in the Vocational Certificate for Irish.

Holding of Examinations:

The examinations for the Certificate in Irish for Post-Primary Teachers in 2000 and afterwards will be held as follows:


• 1. February/March: - The examination for the Certificate in Irish for Post-Primary Teachers will be held in February/March each year. Application forms will be available from the State Examinations Commission and the final date for applications will be available on www.examinations.ie
• 2. May: - Candidates who sat the examination in February but who did not succeed in passing will have the opportunity to sit the examination again in May. Those candidates will be duly informed, and adequate notice given, regarding the date and venue of the repeat examination for the Certificate in Irish for Post-Primary Teachers.
Notes:


• 1. It would be of particular benefit to the candidate if he/she studied some textbooks in Irish which are relevant to his/her own subjects.
• 2. Adequate notice will be given to candidates detailing the time and venue of the examination.
• 3. Application forms and all other information is available from The State Examinations Commission, Athlone, County Westmeath Telephone number: 090 6442729 / 6442830 or on www.examinations.ie.
N.B. If there is any change to a candidate’s home address, it is essential that the State Examinations Commission be informed immediately of the new address.



TGMI APPLICATION FORM 2018
TGMI Syllabus – EV site