Spoken Irish standards deteriorating among primary students
23/06/2006 - 10:30:30The standard of spoken Irish is deteriorating amongst primary school students, according to a study commissioned by the Department of Education.
The study has found that less than one third of primary school pupils have achieved a mastery in Irish, compared with more than half in 1985.
Sixteen percent of students examined as part of the research failed all the tests set for them.
The study also found that the standard of Irish in Gaeltacht schools had declined significantly in the past 20 years.
