We are delighted to see our letter published in the Irish Times today on the benefits of an international approach to education as provided by St. Kilian’s – applying the best of the Irish and German education systems!
Dear Editor,
In our roles as Principals in St. Kilian’s German School in Dublin, we are writing to highlight the merit of adopting a wider lens when it comes to school education in Ireland, by reference to recent Irish Times articles.
As a background, St. Kilian’s has a proud tradition of applying the best of the Irish and German education systems, promoting European citizenship in a progressive and mixed environment, from Junior Infants to Leaving Certificate level. We provide students with the opportunity to become fluent in German, and therefore to access opportunities not only in Ireland, but also across Europe and beyond, particularly in Germany.
For policymakers and teachers alike, we should foster this type of holistic and international approach to education. Your article on the relatively poor foreign language abilities of young Irish people (16th December 2024) gives us pause for thought. It points to the need to encourage our students to embrace the learning of other cultures and languages, broadening their horizons and future potential. This should also be reflected when we measure educational performance. When it comes to the Irish Times analysis on the percentage of Leaving Certificate students attaining a third-level college place (10th December 2024), we should include colleges attended not only in Ireland, but also abroad. For example, given its educational ethos, St. Kilian’s enables students to attend colleges both in Ireland and across Europe, a feature which the data does not record.
We ought to encourage young people to develop the skills needed to thrive in an international environment, particularly given Ireland’s globalised economy and membership of the European Union. This is an approach that St. Kilian’s will continue to adopt, empowering students to excel in Ireland and internationally, to their and society’s benefit.
Yours sincerely,
Nigel Macmillan, Anja Meier
Principals at St. Kilian’s Deutsche Schule, Eurocampus, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14
