"Marty Miller has suggested Gaelic-language schools drop A-levels to strike a blow for a united Ireland."

I'm more surprised (in a non-prerogative way) that it’s actually possible to take A levels in gaelic- how are they standardised with the English-language candidates’ efforts?

But apart from that, if they want to drop the Brit imperialist A levels, who really cares?

But if they really hold our education system in such contempt and want to take the ROI’s exams, then they can do Derry City at the same time and have their schools financed by Dublin, rather than the UK taxpayer. Everyone (except the ROI’s taxpayer obviously) would be a winner

Though ONeill, I would imagine then those in favour of that move would stop paying money to the UK Treasury. Let's just remember that many Irish Nationalists pay taxes to the British Excheqour.

Unless they physically rather than just metaphorically want to withdraw fro our society and move to the ROI, then they are still receiving a lot of other benefits from living and paying taxes within the UK.

Some kind of voucher system (it's been tried in the US, I believe) could be answer- the proportion of their taxes which goes towards educating their children could be given back in voucher form- they and the ROI taxpayer could make up the shortfall.

Hang on a sec. So, Irish-language schools are actually considering this? I thought it was just a suggestion by Mairtin O'Muilleoir?

"Irish-language schools are actually considering this?"

Not that I'm aware of (but who knows?). TBH I'd give the Irish-language schools the benefit of the doubt and a bit more credit than Marty.

That said, I'm not sure they'd even get a say in the matter if our wonderful education minister just took the decision for them. Of course it would be entirely hypocritical given she had her kids educated in Northern Irish schools and under the NI curriculum, but that's never stopped her before.

Actually in general a move to Higher Leaving Certs would be a good idea. Leaving Certs are done at 17, and they are a qualification accepted and respected by UK universities. The A Level is not what it once was. Keep the leaving age at 18, and you have a year for students to get involved in voluntary work, or try and get some experience with local businesses, or shock! - actually do some sort of structured learning out of interest, rather than because they need their exams and the world will end if they don't get them.

Kensei,

I agree. The A-levels seem to have been dumbed down even since I did them in the late 90s. The Leaving Cert seems to have retained its standard and not tried to give everyone an "A" just for the hell of it.

On the other hand, I really enjoyed my A-levels as I got to pick the three subjects I really liked and was good at. That can't be done with the broader Leaving Cert curriculum.

Based only on the fact that A levels are rapidly losing all credibility, it wouldn't be too bad an idea to swap the whole NI secondary/sixth form education system over to the leaving cert.

But that would undermine the entire idea of UK institutional unity, which is evil evil evil. Time to recognise britain is a sinking ship and get off?


....HOWEVER, on the other hand Irish language teaching at secondary schools in the republic has a disasterous record for teaching basic fluency & competency in Irish and promoting use and interest in the Irish language long term.

So in summary swapping to the leaving cert would improve general standards, but kill off the Irish language. Not exactly what I think Mr Miller had in mind.

In Switzerland, kids attending French language schools can take the baccalaureate. I'm sure this is possible at foreign language schools in the UK too.

It would probably save the NI economy money, as a whole parallel set of A-Levels wouldn't have to be managed.