The number of students opting out of Irish in the Junior and Leaving Cert exams has increased by more than 400 per cent in the past decade, new figures show. Seán Flynn, Education Editor reports.
The inspectorate of the Department of Education and Science has ordered a review of the operation of the scheme amid concern that it is being abused.
Since 1994, the number of second-level students seeking an exemption in Irish has increased from just over 2 per cent to over 10 per cent.
While some of this increase is due to the increasing number of foreign nationals in Irish schools, the department says "the increasing levels of exemptions is giving cause for concern".
One senior education figure complained that "exemptions are being given out very freely in some schools. We are not talking about kids with learning difficulties or immigrants, but pupils who cannot be bothered to take Irish".
Concerns have also been raised that students in some fee-paying schools are gaining the exemption easily, opting out of Irish and concentrating on other subjects.
Students must meet certain conditions to secure an exemption from taking Irish as a Junior and Leaving Cert subject.
These conditions include;
Only 1,719 students secured an exemption in 1994 compared to 6,588 last year.
Of these, over 2,400 students cite learning difficulties in order to gain an exemption. In addition, 322 exemptions were awarded for unspecified reasons.
Schools have the authority to award students an exemption in Irish.
In his report for 2001-2004, chief inspector Éamonn Stack says a new circular detailing how students should qualify for an exemption is being prepared.
The popularity of higher-level Irish has declined dramatically. Last year, only 14,000 students took higher level at Leaving Cert level.
More than 35,000 took either ordinary level or foundation level Irish. By comparison, over 15,000 took higher level French.