The current model for teaching English in primary schools to non-English-speaking children does not work for some multi-ethnic schools, an Oireachtas committee on education was told today.
Tony McGinley, principal of St John the Evangelist NS in Adamstown, west Dublin, said the English as an Additional Language (EAL) model is based on immersion in English, but immersion wasn't possible when 87 per cent of pupils at his school didn't have English as a first language.
He also told the committee the school, built in 2008, had a library, but no books to put in it.
Principals of four other secondary schools with high percentages of non-Irish born children also addressed the Joint Committee on Education and Science.
They all warned of the dangers of failing to address the educational needs of children not born in Ireland and they said it was essential children and their families learned to speak English as soon as possible to enable integration into Irish society.
Chairman of the committee, Green Party Deputy Paul Gogarty complained of the poor attendance at the meeting by Fianna Fáil senators and deputies.
Of the seven Fianna Fáil members of the committee, only one attended for some of the time, one sent apologies and the rest "couldn't be bothered to turn up", Mr Gogarty said.
