Ba le linn Oireachtas na Samhna 2017 i gCill Áirne a bhronn Ollscoil Mhá Nuad teastais de chuid Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) ar iarrthóirí rathúla ó Chontae Chiarraí a rinne scrúduithe cainte TEG le déanaí. Sa mhullach air sin, bronnadh gradam nua, Gradam TEG, ar Oifig na Gaeilge, Comhairle Chontae Ciarraí, chun aitheantas a thabhairt don obair mhór atá déanta ag an eagraíocht an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn sa láthair oibre agus ar fud an chontae.
Le deich mbliana anuas tá Comhairle Contae Chiarraí ag baint leasa as scrúduithe TEG chun cuid dá baill foirne a chumasú an Ghaeilge a shealbhú go córasach trí scrúduithe Gaeilge a dhéanamh. Is é aidhm Oifig na Gaeilge sa Chomhairle, faoi stiúir Oifigeach na Gaeilge, Roibeard Ó hEartáin, seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge ar ardchaighdeán a sholáthar don phobal. Cuireann an Chomhairle seirbhísí i nGaeilge ar fáil ar nós fiosruithe pleanála, conas mótarcháin a athnuachan, agus conas clárú chun vótáil. Míníonn Roibeard tábhacht an ghradaim dó féin agus don eagraíocht. Deir sé gur “...mór an chúis áthais do Chomhairle Contae Chiarraí gur bhronn Ollscoil Mhá Nuad Gradam TEG 2017 orainn... Is ábhar ríméid agus mórtais dúinn an t-aitheantas seo a fháil agus gabhaim buíochas ó chroí as tacaíocht na hOllscoile don Oifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge agus don eagraíocht i gcoitinne thar blianta...”
Cuireann TEG sraith scrúduithe agus cáilíochtaí ar fáil do dhaoine fásta atá ag plé leis an nGaeilge idir ghlantosaitheoirí, dhaoine atá ag iarraidh filleadh ar fhoghlaim na Gaeilge, agus dhaoine a bhfuil ardchaighdeán Gaeilge acu cheana féin ar mhaith leo barr feabhais a chur ar a gcuid scileanna teanga agus cáilíocht aitheanta a fháil. Tugann na scrúduithe deis d’iarrthóirí ó eagraíochtaí éagsúla cur lena gcumas sa Ghaeilge chun próifíl agus úsáid na teanga a neartú mar theanga oibre laethúil na heagraíochta. Le linn na hócáide, mhínigh Anna Ní Ghallachair, stiúrthóir Lárionad na Gaeilge, Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, tábhacht chóras TEG mar go dtugann sé spriocanna cinnte foghlama don fhoireann sa láthair oibre.
Roghnaigh Lárionad na Gaeilge Comhairle Contae Chiarraí do Gradam TEG 2017 chun aitheantas a thabhairt don eagraíocht as an obair atá ar bun acu i gcur chun cinn na Gaeilge. Tá sé i gceist ag an Lárionad an gradam seo a bhronnadh ar institiúidí, ar eagraíochtaí, nó ar dhaoine a chuireann Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge agus an Ghaeilge chun cinn sa phobal agus sa láthair oibre. Tá dátaí scrúduithe TEG 2018 socraithe anois agus is féidir teacht ar thuilleadh eolais ar www.teg.ie.
Maynooth University Award presented to Kerry County Council
During Oireachtas na Samhna 2017 in Killarney, Maynooth University presented Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge Irish Language (TEG) certificates to successful candidates from Co. Kerry who recently undertook oral exams. At the same event, a newly established award, Gradam TEG, was presented to Kerry County Council’s Irish Language Office in recognition of the exceptional work that the organisation has done in developing and promoting the use of Irish in the workplace and throughout the county.
For the past ten years, Kerry County Council has been using TEG proficiency exams to enable its staff to acquire the Irish language through a systematic assessment-based approach. The Council’s Irish Language Office, under the direction of its Irish Language Officer, Roibeard Ó hEartáin, endeavour to provide high quality services to the community. The Council offers services such as planning queries, motor tax renewals, and voter registration through the medium of Irish. Roibeard explains how important the award is for him and for his organisation, “It’s a great honour to be presented with Gradam TEG 2017 by Maynooth University. We are happy and proud to receive such recognition. I would like to thank the University for supporting the work of the Irish Language Development Office and the organisation in general throughout the years…”
TEG provides a series of general Irish language proficiency examinations and qualifications for adult learners of Irish who engage with the language at various levels including complete beginners, those who are returning to the learning of Irish, and those who already have a high standard of Irish but who wish to perfect their Gaeilge and to receive a recognised qualification. The exams give candidates from various organisations the chance to build on their Irish language proficiency i order to increase the usage of Irish as a working language within the organisation. During the ceremony, Anna Ní Ghallachair, Director of the Centre for Irish Language, Maynooth University, explained the importance of the TEG system and how it provides members of staff with clear learning objectives in the workplace.
The Centre for Irish Language chose Kerry County Council for Gradam TEG 2017 in recognition of the work that the organisation has done in the development of Irish. The Centre hopes to present the award to other institutions, organisations, or to individuals who promote Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge and the Irish language in their communities or in the workplace. TEG 2018 exam dates are now confirmed and further information is available on www.teg.ie.